Putin to meet Erdogan as Russia-Turkey ties deepen

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017. Russian officials reported the destruction of the country's last remaining artillery projectiles filled with a toxic agent to President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. The work took place at the Kizner facility in the Urals, one of five facilities built in Russia to destroy chemical weapons. (Mikhail Klimentyev/Pool Photo via AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017. Russian officials reported the destruction of the country's last remaining artillery projectiles filled with a toxic agent to President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. The work took place at the Kizner facility in the Urals, one of five facilities built in Russia to destroy chemical weapons. (Mikhail Klimentyev/Pool Photo via AP)

By Associated Press September 28, 2017 1 min read

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin is traveling to Turkey for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on developments in Iraq and Syria, and Turkey’s decision to purchase a Russian-made missile defense system.

Putin’s visit on Thursday comes as Turkey and Russia are deepening ties in a turnaround for the two nations, which have backed opposing sides in Syria and nearly came to blows over Turkey’s downing of a Russian plane in 2015.

Russia and Turkey, together with Iran, are now working on setting up de-escalation zones in Syria that have helped reduce fighting. On Iraq, Turkey has strongly opposed an Iraqi Kurdish referendum on independence which Russia neither supported nor condemned.

Some of Turkey’s NATO allies have expressed concern over Turkey’s decision to purchase the Russia’s S-400 missile defense system.