Your trusted source

“The letter addressed to the Russian president by Erdogan seemed would to bring no shifts in the Russia-Turkish relations. Russian statements spoke of that,” expert in Turkey, Hakob Chakryan told reporters at a press conference.

To the speaker’s words, the letter was followed by a telephone conversation between the two presidents. Later, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave an instruction to lift the ban on visits of  the Russian citizens to Turkey and restore trade and economic relations.

“That came as a surprise, and I wonder why Putin succumbed to Erdogan, since he had earlier vowed not to restore relation with Turkey until the preconditions are met,” Chakryan told, recalling the preconditions voiced by Putin, namely apologies for downing the plane, covering any material losses to the country and the pilot's family as well as carrying out objective investigation of the killing of the Russian Su-24 pilot.

According to the speaker, none of the preconditions were fulfilled. Chakryan suggested there was difference between apologies of Erdogan to Putin, and apologies to Russia on behalf of Turkey.
The expert next noted that it would have been clearer to judge Putin’s motives if Erdogan’s letter were published.