The meeting between US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took place at the White House.
“We have been friends with President Erdogan for a long time. He is very respected in his country, throughout Europe, and around the world,” Trump said.
Erdogan responded: “In Trump’s first and second terms, we are experiencing a new phase in the relationship between Turkey and the United States.”
Trump noted that he would discuss with Erdogan the issue of Turkey’s purchase of Patriot missile systems, F-16 and F-35 fighter jets. When asked how soon US sanctions limiting the sale of F-35s to Turkey could be lifted, Trump replied: “If we have a good meeting, it would happen almost immediately.”
The US president noted that he would like Turkey to stop buying oil from Russia while the conflict in Ukraine continues. Trump added that Erdogan could have significant influence over Putin and Zelensky if he chose to.
“He is very neutral at the moment. He likes to be neutral. But he is the kind of person who, if he intervenes, the best thing he can do is not buy oil and gas from Russia,” he added.
Erdogan did not directly comment on Trump’s remarks about Russia, but said he was looking forward to discussing Turkish-American relations.
