Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan touted his country's "special relationship" with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, speaking to CNN during an interview broadcast Friday. Erdogan said that the U.N. and Turkey-brokered Black Sea Grain Corridor Initiative, in which he played a key role helping to unlock crucial Ukrainian grain exports blocked by Russia's invasion, "was possible because of our special relationship with President Putin." The powerful Turkish leader's closeness to Putin, despite its membership in NATO, has made many Western leaders and diplomats nervous.

The post Turkey’s Erdogan Touts ‘special relationship’ with Putin, stands by his refusal to impose sanctions appeared first on Balanced News Summary.