Turkey is a reliable, time-tested partner for Russia and the energy cooperation between the two countries is "strategic," Russian President Vladimir Putin told Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Monday as they met on the sidelines of a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in China.

Putin praised Turkey's role in efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, saying its "special role" in mediation and diplomacy would continue to be in demand.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

TIANJIN, CHINA (SEPTEMBER 1, 2025) (RUSSIAN POOL - Access all)

1. RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN AND TURKISH COUNTERPART TAYYIP ERDOGAN TALKING VIA INTERPRETERS AS THEY WALK

2. PUTIN AND ERDOGAN APPROACHING STAND WITH RUSSIAN TURKISH FLAGS / SHAKING HANDS AS THEY POSE FOR PHOTO

3. RUSSIAN-TURKISH TALKS STARTING

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"The (Russian-Turkish) energy partnership is of genuinely strategic nature."

5. TALKS IN PROGRESS

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"Russia is one of the key suppliers of natural gas to Turkey. At the moment, the export via Blue Stream and Turkish Stream over the Black Sea flows without interruption."

7. TALKS IN PROGRESS

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"(We) are grateful to our Turkish friends for their significant contribution in the political and diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukrainian crisis. Since May, three rounds of direct Russian-Ukrainian talks have taken place in Istanbul which helped to achieve progress in a number of practical humanitarians issues. I am confident that Turkey's special role in these matters will remain in demand."

9. TALKS IN PROGRESS