It is now unclear whether Turkey will buy Russian weapons in the future, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday.
“Of course, there are weapon systems that we bought. Under the current circumstances, it is unclear what will happen in the future,” Erdogan said when asked by a journalist how long Turkey would continue to buy weapons from Russia.
However, Erdogan added that he would “maintain his friendship” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Erdogan’s comments came after he met Scholz in Ankara to discuss the approach of both countries to Russia and the war in Ukraine.
NATO member Turkey has so far not joined the Russian sanctions regime imposed by Western allies.
Asked after the meeting whether Turkey would impose similar sanctions, Erdogan said that “in terms of sanctions, we did everything that was necessary within the UN framework”.
Meanwhile, Scholz stressed he and Erdogan “completely agree that there needs to be a ceasefire as soon as possible” and that secure corridors for civilians need to be put in place immediately.
“We will incessantly continue our efforts for a permanent ceasefire,” Erdogan also said.