Erdogan and Putin, the End of an Unlikely Partnership

Article excerpt

Turkey has increasingly distanced itself from Russia over Ukraine, a shift enabled by Moscow's military struggles and economic weakness. President Erdoğan, once positioned as a neutral broker between Russia and the West, has tilted toward supporting Ukrainian interests, backing NATO membership for Finland and Sweden, supplying weapons to Kyiv, and allowing U.S. military operations from Turkish territory. The partnership that once seemed pragmatic for both leaders has fractured as Russia's leverage has diminished and Turkey recognizes greater advantage in alignment with Western powers. For Ukraine, this realignment represents a crucial geopolitical gain.