As Moscow-Ankara patch ties, Putin in Turkey for energy deals and trade

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Turkey Monday to attend an energy conference, during which he will also meet his Turkish counterpart to discuss energy deals and trade.

Putin will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the 23rd World Energy Congress, which began on Sunday.

The high-level visit is significant and comes as both leaders – who began normalizing relations over the summer that were strained over the shooting of a Russian plane by Turkey in November -- seek to revamp joint energy projects and trade.

One significant project Russia wants to finalize is an agreement on building a pipeline under the Black Sea, named the "TurkStream,” which would transport gas from Russia to Europe.

An official from the Russian state gas company, Gazprom, told Reuters that the two countries were close to finalizing a deal the deal.

"We have overcome most of the problems," the official said. "We aim to resolve the remaining issues and get it ready for signing."

"The final decision will be a political one… If the leaders decide on it, the agreement could be signed today, otherwise in a few weeks at the latest," the official added.

Ahead of Putin's visit, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the RIA Novosti news agency that the two leaders will aim to restore bilateral relations "in all aspects."

Since beginning to patch up its relations with Russia, Turkey has intervened militarily in the Syrian conflict against Islamic State (ISIS) militants, a move Moscow did not oppose. Also, Ankara has withheld on any strong condemnation of the intensified assault on opposition groups in the Syrian city of Aleppo by Russia and the Syrian regime.

As Moscow-Ankara patch ties, Putin in Turkey for energy deals and trade

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