VIDEO | Andonovic: For the first time since the start of the war, Putin travels outside Russia - Ankara announces it will not impose sanctions on Moscow

Vladimir Putin / Photo: EPA-EFE / MIKHAIL METZEL

Today is the 124th day of the war in Ukraine. After the conquest of Northodonetsk, the Russian army advanced on Lisichansk, the last major city held by Ukrainian forces in the eastern province of Luhansk. According to TASS, according to pro-Russian separatists, Moscow forces entered Lisichansk from five directions, but Reuters could not confirm this information. The Ukrainian General Staff announced that the Russians were firing heavily on Lisichansk with heavy artillery.

Meanwhile, Russian forces have also fired rockets at Kyiv, Kharkov and Lviv, cities that have been spared attacks in recent weeks.

Increasing air strikes have prompted Ukrainian President Zelensky to demand additional anti-aircraft systems from NATO countries. The intensification of the attacks shows that the Ukrainian air defense has a shortage of air defense systems, according to the Ukrainian military command.

Meanwhile, the Russian president's press service said that for the first time since the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, Putin will leave Russia and travel abroad. Putin will visit two former Soviet states in Central Asia next week, Russian state television reported.
These are two former republics of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

Putin is scheduled to meet in Dushanbe with Tajik President Imamali Rahmon, a close Russian ally. The Russian president will attend the Caspian Summit in Ashgabat, which will be attended by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iran and Turkmenistan.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, killed thousands, displaced millions, and left Moscow under severe Western financial sanctions. Putin claims the sanctions have boosted Russia's trade ties with China, India and Iran.

But at the same time, with the announced visit of the two Turkophone countries, official Ankara announced that it will not impose sanctions on Russia. Ankara believes it must look after its own interests.

"If everyone is tearing down bridges, then who will talk to Russia," Turkish officials said.

Ankara and, above all, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have long been at odds with the West over Turkey's relations with Moscow. For both Russia and the West, Turkey plays a key role as Turkey, as a NATO member, has already announced that it will block the entry of Sweden and Finland into the Alliance.

On the other hand, Ankara plays a major geostrategic role seen in the recent war in Syria where, in agreement with Russia, it managed to achieve its goals around the Kurds.

A large number of Turkophones live on the territory of the Russian Federation, which, without the support of Ankara, could cause serious problems for the authorities in Moscow.

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