Turkey's EU Bid: Kremlin Warns of Illusions as Erdogan Tilts Away from Putin

The Kremlin has stated that Turkey should not have any illusions about its chances of joining the European Union (EU), emphasizing its desire for strong relations with Ankara despite disagreements over NATO enlargement. Turkey recently dropped its opposition to Sweden joining NATO, a move that Russia sees as a threat to its own security. The Kremlin spokesperson acknowledged Turkey's historical periods of orientation towards the West but highlighted the long-standing EU resistance to admitting Turkey. Russia wants to continue building mutually beneficial relations with Turkey, including brokering deals and exports, despite their differences.