Erdoğan boasts of growing 'special relationship' with Putin despite sanctions refusal

Turkish President Erdogan has stated that he will continue to strengthen political and economic ties with Russia despite the country's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, defying pressure from the West. Erdogan emphasized his "special relationship" with Russian President Putin is deepening and that the West needs a more balanced approach towards Russia. Despite Turkey's membership of NATO, Ankara has stepped up its economic ties with Moscow since the start of the war, increasing imports of cheap Russian oil embargoed by other European countries.