Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a phone conversation on Monday to discuss bilateral relations, the situation in the Middle East, and the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Kremlin press service reported.
According to Russian media, the two leaders reviewed the state of economic and energy cooperation between their countries and exchanged views on the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Erdoğan emphasized that Türkiye is working to achieve a ceasefire in the enclave and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians caught in the conflict. He also underlined the need to revive diplomatic initiatives to secure a “just and lasting peace” in the Russia–Ukraine conflict.
Putin, in turn, reaffirmed the importance of maintaining dialogue between Moscow and Ankara on key international issues, calling Türkiye a “strategic and constructive partner.”
Energy, Trade, and Strategic Dialogue
The conversation comes as Russia and Türkiye continue to deepen cooperation in energy, logistics, and defense – despite geopolitical strains. Ankara remains an important partner in Moscow’s plans to establish a natural gas hub in Türkiye to channel Russian energy exports toward Southern Europe.
In addition, both countries have worked to expand trade routes through the Black Sea and the Middle Corridor, a transit network connecting Asia to Europe via the South Caucasus. These routes are increasingly vital as sanctions and regional instability alter global supply chains.
Earlier this year, Erdoğan reaffirmed that Türkiye seeks to act as a mediator, maintaining contact with both Russia and Ukraine, as well as with the United States and European Union.
Context: Diplomatic Balancing and Regional Stakes
The call follows a series of international efforts to stabilize the Middle East following escalating violence in Gaza. Türkiye, which maintains relations with both Israel and Hamas, has sought to position itself as a regional peace broker, using its ties with Western and Muslim-majority nations to mediate humanitarian corridors.
At the same time, Moscow views such dialogue as a means to preserve leverage in regional conflicts and offset its growing diplomatic isolation in the West.
Analysis: Implications for the Wider Region
The renewed Putin–Erdoğan dialogue reflects an evolving strategic realignment across Eurasia – one where Türkiye continues to balance its NATO commitments with regional diplomacy, and Russia leans more heavily on partners in the South Caucasus and Central Asia to sustain connectivity and trade.
For Azerbaijan, this coordination holds additional significance. Both Russia and Türkiye remain pivotal players in the Middle Corridor transit network that Baku anchors – connecting energy, logistics, and trade routes from the Caspian to the Mediterranean.
While Ankara’s regional diplomacy focuses on stability and humanitarian outreach, Moscow’s engagement underscores its intent to remain relevant in a fast-changing geopolitical landscape.
As one regional analyst put it, “Every call between Putin and Erdoğan is no longer just about bilateral cooperation – it’s about recalibrating the architecture of Eurasian power.”
