Kremlin says Putin-Erdogan meeting not to take place before election

The meeting of Russian and Turkish leaders Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan will not take place before the presidential election in Russia, said the Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

"Not until the elections, no," he told reporters on February 26, answering a related question, according to Interfax.

Peskov said that "before the elections, the president's schedule is quite tight and busy, and Mr Erdogan's is quite busy as well."

"Nevertheless, preparations for high-level contacts are underway, we have repeatedly stated this," he added.

Peskov explained that "these contacts will take place at that moment when it will best suit the schedules of the two presidents."