UPDATE - Kremlin says Russia expects cooperation with Türkiye to ‘continue, deepen, expand’

ADDS FURTHER COMMENTS FROM KREMLIN SPOKESMAN DMITRY PESKOV

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Kremlin said on Monday that Russia expects cooperation with Türkiye to continue, deepen, and expand amid the country’s presidential and parliamentary elections that took place on Sunday.

"Of course, we are watching the news coming from Türkiye these days with great interest and attention. We respect and will treat the choice of the Turkish people. But in any case, we expect our cooperation to continue, deepen, and expand," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists in a press briefing.

Peskov said cooperation between Moscow and Ankara is mutually beneficial and meets the interests of the peoples of the two countries, adding that Türkiye is able to ensure "transparent elections" and "prevent illegal actions" from taking place.

Late Saturday, Peskov told the Russian state news agency TASS that Moscow “categorically rejected” accusations of interference in the Turkish elections, saying this is “out of the question."

On Thursday, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and joint candidate for the six-party opposition Nation Alliance, accused Russia of being behind a video content allegedly discrediting candidates for the presidency in the May 14 elections.

On Friday, Peskov said there can be no question of any interference of Russia in the Turkish elections, and that "those who spread such rumors are liars."

Peskov also denied French claims that Russia is "subservient" to China, adding that Moscow-Beijing relations have a "special strategic partnership" nature and this "is not connected with any dependence on anyone."

"We consider such an approach to be absolutely wrong. This is probably evidence of a completely wrong understanding of the essence of what is happening," Peskov said.

French President Emmanuel Macron told local media on Sunday that Russia entered “a form of subservience” with China and lost its access to the Baltic, which he described as “a geopolitical defeat.”

Regarding the UK's plans to announce the supply of additional weapons to Ukraine during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to the country, Peskov said the Kremlin firmly opposes such a plan.

“We repeat once again that this cannot have any significant and fundamental impact on the course of the special military operation, but, of course, this leads to further destruction (of relations)… this leads to further retaliatory actions,” he said.

The UK government said earlier on Monday that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will announce the additional provision of hundreds of air defense missiles and unmanned aerial systems during Zelenskyy's visit, who arrived in the country earlier in the day.