US President Donald Trump said during a meeting with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Russian President Vladimir Putin “must stop.” He also stressed that Russia has spent millions of dollars on bombs, missiles and human lives, but has made virtually no progress in Ukraine.
Speaking about Erdogan, the American leader emphasized that he would like Turkey to stop buying oil from Russia while the occupiers "continue their unbridled offensive against Ukraine." He also pointed to Turkey's ability to influence events in Ukraine.
"Everyone respects Erdogan, and I respect him too. He can have a big influence on the course of the war in Ukraine if he wants to, but he prefers to remain neutral," — Trump emphasized and added that the Turkish president enjoys great respect around the world, including in Ukraine and Russia.
Erdogan has built a powerful army and actively uses American equipment, and he "knows Putin as well as Trump."
