Erdoğan and Putin, both strong leaders who have portrayed their rule as a time of national renaissance, previously had a very good personal relationship. In November, Turkey shot down a Russian Su-24 fighter jet, after what it said were multiple warnings to leave Turkish airspace. The rapprochement between Erdoğan and Putin has jangled nerves in Brussels. “Turn back the clock one year, we had even stronger relations with Russia at that time,” he told the Guardian. “It is our principled position,” Putin said, in regard to the coup attempt.

Source: The Guardian August 09, 2016 12:50 UTC