No conflict between Putin and Erdoğan should be expected, – international affairs expert Danilov

He expressed this opinion on the air of Espreso.

"During the grain deal, Turkey not only performed very well but also made a considerable profit. It gained political points, authority, and, of course, money. In reality, this was a predatory agreement, and Turkey benefited greatly from it," Danilov explained.

The expert emphasized that due to the new U.S. policy, Turkey has begun to assert that forming a new European security system without its participation will be impossible.

"Turkey consistently supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Erdoğan continues to stress that Crimea belongs to Ukraine, and Turkey remains a reliable partner of Ukraine. In fact, Turkey is currently in a strong position. They believe that without the U.S., they are becoming a key security player, and that a European security system cannot be built without their military. 

Against this backdrop, they have started saying that they will not defend Europe without EU membership. This is a significant statement. Clearly, there will be no conflict between Putin and Erdoğan at the moment. Turkey remains too important for Russia, as sanctions have not been lifted. In this situation, Russia does not want to quarrel with Turkey. However, Moscow is also unwilling to give Turkey the privilege of becoming the main platform for negotiations," he concluded.

• On March 24, following a government meeting, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that Turkey had mobilized all its diplomatic resources to facilitate the swiftest possible end to the Russia-Ukraine war and prevent further destruction.
• On March 28, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a phone conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, during which he once again offered Turkey’s mediation in the negotiation process to end the Russia-Ukraine war.