Erdogan is an influential world leader: Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's leadership. He said, Erdogan is a trusted and influential world leader. He said this in the annual speech of Valdai Discussion Club, a Moscow-based research institute.
The Moscow-based Valdai Discussion Club is one of Russia's top research institutes, intellectual organizations and discussion forums. The organization's 19th annual conference began last Monday (October 24). Putin gave a speech on the last day of the conference, Thursday (October 27).
In this important speech given eight months after the start of the Ukraine war, he harshly criticized the Western military alliance NATO and the United States on the Ukraine issue. At the same time, he expressed his determination to uphold the history, traditions and values of Russian society.
Putin praised the diplomatic efforts of Turkey and its President Erdogan to end the Ukraine conflict. He said that Turkey is an ally and friend of Russia. According to Putin, Erdoğan's only concern is the development of Turkey's agriculture, economy and people. He renovated the historical monuments of the country to attract foreign tourists.
Referring to Erdogan's role in Turkey's development, Putin said that the country's president has enriched the energy sector to sustain Turkey's development. With the establishment of the TurkStream gas pipeline, Turkey is now going to become Russia's main gas distribution hub. Under the strong leadership of Erdogan, Turkey has become one of the most influential countries in Europe and the world.
Erdogan's praise does not end here, Putin also said that Erdogan's greatest virtue is that he does not endanger the people of his own country by engaging in useless wars on the words of others. In his words, "Erdogan's contribution to peace in the world is undeniable." He saved the world from a famine by arranging for Ukraine's grain exports during the war.'
On the Ukraine conflict, Putin said that the West has provoked the Ukraine war. But they will have to discuss its future with Russia in the end. He said, the new center of gravity of the world system is being created. The West has to sit with us on how the world will run in the future. The sooner the better.
Putin accused the US of using the dollar as a 'weapon'. He said that Washington has destroyed the international financial system by weaponizing the dollar. The Russian president said that he believes that the dependence on the dollar will decrease in the coming days. Other countries will also use alternative currencies to the dollar in international trade.
Referring to the next decade as more dangerous than the Second World War, Putin said that Western countries have started playing a dangerous game in Ukraine. They fuel the war. Putin warned in his speech that the coming decade will be more dangerous than the 1940s and the Second World War. In his words, perhaps the most dangerous and important decade lies ahead.
Putin said Russia wanted to be a friend of the United States and Western countries. But they rejected this attempt of Russia. Because the United States, the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom wanted to see Russia cornered.
