IMPACT OF THE SPECIAL MILITARY OPERATION IN UKRAINE ON RELATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND TURKEY IN 2022

Abstract

The article is devoted to the consideration of the changes that have taken place in relations between Russia and Turkey in 2022 in connection with the conduct of a special military operation in Ukraine. It is concluded that the relationship did not take on a negative character, on the contrary, Russia and Turkey have new areas for cooperation. However, the conflict of interest persists in almost all areas of relations between countries. At the same time, not all areas of cooperation can be developed in full (primarily because of the threat of sanctions against Turkish individuals and companies interacting with Russia). Currently, Russia is doubling its trade turnover with Turkey, is implementing the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant and is also planning the creation of an «international gas hub» in Turkey. From our point of view, the main threat to Russian interests comes from too close cooperation with Turkey in the economy. The implementation of the gas hub project will be able to partially compensate for the loss of Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2, but it is fraught with becoming dependent on Turkish policy on other issues, in particular, in the Middle East and the South Caucasus.