Relations between Russia, Turkey 'developing': Kremlin

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - The relations between Russia and Turkey are "developing", a Kremlin spokesman said on Friday.

Suspension of the flights from Russia to Turkey does not mean chilling in the bilateral relations, the restrictions were put due to the worsening coronavirus situation in Turkey, Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow.

"The relations between the two countries are developing. The situation with the ban on tourism has nothing to do with bilateral relations. Of course, our Turkish partners cannot but be sympathetic to our concern for our own citizens. This, in fact, is the partnership," Peskov said.

Russia has temporarily suspended regular and charter flights with Turkey from April 15 to June 1.

Flights will resume if developments in the pandemic show a positive trend, until then there will be only two regular flights per week between Moscow and Istanbul.

Peskov also said that a recent meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky had nothing to do with the relations between Russia and Turkey.

"The relations that Turkey is building with neighboring countries belong to the sphere of the sovereign right of the state. As for the talks between President Erdogan and President Zelensky - this is a bilateral relationship between the two states," he said.