Turkey's President Recep Erdogan was strikingly similar to his Russian colleague, and after Turkish planes shot down a Russian bomber, Russian President Vladimir Putin was able to assess this similarity.

This opinion was expressed by Ukrainian journalist Vitaliy Portnikov in an article on Minval.az.

“Many observers have discussed the similarities in the political styles of presidents of Russia and Turkey. Today Vladimir Putin was happy to evaluate this similarity. It is obvious that he did not believe in the possibility of destroying Russian aircraft of the Turkish air defense — despite repeated warnings from Ankara. But convinced that Erdogan does not throw words to the wind — even when the decision may lead to consequences of a strategic nature and change the entire foreign configuration in the region,” he said.

The publicist also added that “Erdogan reacted cautiously to Putin's annexation of Crimea — despite the obvious pressure of the Turkish public opinion, protests descendants living in Turkey Crimean Tatars and visits in Ankara the leaders of the Crimean Tatar people”.

“This caution was maintained until very recently — even when the Russian authorities in Crimea have moved to a policy of direct extrusion of Crimean Tatars and destruction of their national Parliament. Here you can understand Erdogan — Turkey has its own “skeletons in the closet” — the same Northern Cyprus, the territory of which the Turkish military contingent, and statehood is recognized only by Ankara. There is dependence on gas supplies from Russia, there are considerations that in its foreign policy, Turkey should in no way blindly copy the West. So Erdogan can afford to be careful,” reminded the author.

Portnikov added that the Turkish leader “cannot afford to seem weak”

“It offered him Putin for its intervention in Syria. Russian planes with impunity violate Turkish airspace, Putin destroys allies Ankara and behaves like the owner in the region, to leadership in which was claimed by Turkey. And Erdogan, who has only recently conquered the Turkish General staff and convinced the public that a strong leader is he, and not some eternal generals, can not simply observe what is happening. Because otherwise he will lose to Putin. He will lose the General staff,” — said the journalist.

At the same time, and Putin can't leave the destruction of the aircraft without consequences.

“Putin cannot just swallow a plane — because the lack of reaction destroys his image as a strong leader and in the eyes of Russian citizens, and in the eyes of the Russian generals. He's not just mad — as we saw during his meeting with Jordan's king. He is forced to rage — and revenge. This means a further deterioration of Russian-Turkish relations in all areas where Moscow can worsen Ankara's position — from the conflict with the Kurds to Karabakh. And Erdogan? And Erdogan, too, have something to answer, including in Russia itself”, — he said.

At the end Portnikov noted that “fighting Putin or Erdogan's struggle is just beginning.”

МБФ "СЛАВА УКРАЇНІ" / ICF "GLORY TO UKRAINE" / FIB "GLOIRE À L'UKRAINE