Turkey after the purchase of Russian-made S-400 long-range air defense systems is safely protected from air threats and its role on the international arena and in the region is on the rise, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"Turkish President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan recently spoke with me," Putin told a plenary session of the 2019 Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Russia’s Vladivostok.
"Expressing his reaction to this situation [Russia’s possible joining the G7 and the revival of G8] Erdogan said: ‘Why did not you raise an issue of Turkey joining as well?’" the Russian leader added,
"I believe that since Turkey purchased S-400 systems and is now safely protected from air threats, the work of Turkey will be certainly in demand and in place in such a format, taking into account its role in international affairs and in the region," TASS cited Putin as saying.