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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova declared that energy cooperation between Russia and Türkiye has reached a "truly strategic level," highlighting intensive diplomatic engagement between the two nations as Türkiye's first nuclear power plant approaches completion.
Speaking at her weekly press briefing in the Russian capital, Zakharova emphasized the depth of bilateral relations following announcements that the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant's first unit would soon become operational.
"There is intensive interaction between Russia and Türkiye," Zakharova said when asked about the nuclear project's contribution to bilateral ties and Moscow's assessment of relations with Ankara.
The relationship between Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin has remained particularly active, with Zakharova revealing the two leaders have held 12 telephone conversations since the beginning of 2024. The officials most recently met in person during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's 25th Council of Heads of State Summit in China's Tianjin on Sep. 1.
High-level diplomatic exchanges have continued throughout the year, with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visiting Russia in May, where he was received by Putin and held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.
"Communication channels between our countries' foreign ministries regarding bilateral agenda, global and regional issues are comprehensive and active," Zakharova noted.
Parliamentary cooperation has also flourished, with Turkish Grand National Assembly Speaker Numan Kurtulmus visiting Russia last year and Russian Federation Council Chairwoman Valentina Matviyenko traveling to Türkiye in February.
The energy sector has emerged as a cornerstone of the partnership, with Russia serving as one of Türkiye's most important natural gas suppliers. The Akkuyu nuclear plant construction represents what Zakharova called "a leading advanced technology project in the energy sector."
"Energy sector cooperation has reached a truly strategic level. Russia is one of the most important suppliers providing natural gas to Türkiye. The construction of the Akkuyu plant has become a leading advanced technology project in the energy sector. The implementation of this project together with the Turkish side will become a significant event in the history of our multifaceted relations with Ankara," she said.
On regional diplomacy, Zakharova expressed Russia's readiness to support efforts to improve Turkish-Armenian relations, stating that normalization between Ankara and Yerevan is necessary for achieving lasting peace and sustainable development in the South Caucasus.
Turning to Middle Eastern affairs, Zakharova delivered sharp criticism of Israel's intensified attacks on Gaza, describing the civilian toll as "horrible" and warning of further deterioration in the humanitarian situation.
"What is happening to the civilian population in Gaza is horrible. This step has caused serious concern. This will lead to more civilian casualties and a worsening of the already tragic humanitarian situation," she said.
Zakharova specifically condemned Israel's September 9 airstrike on a building in Doha housing Hamas negotiators, interpreting the attack as evidence that "Israel plans to resolve the Gaza issue through force" rather than returning to negotiations.
"With the attack on Doha and the escalation of tension in Gaza, Israel shows that it plans to solve the Gaza problem by using force. This shows that there is no intention to return to the negotiating table. This will also lead to more civilian casualties," she said.
The Russian official called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, urgent humanitarian aid delivery, and resolution of the Palestinian issue based on international law.
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