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Trump then added that he and Erdogan will hold discussions and reach some great trade deals for both countries...
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived at the White House a few minutes ago where he was welcomed by President Donald Trump. The two leaders shook hands and headed to the Oval Office.
During the meeting in the Oval Office, Trump gave a warm welcome to Erdogan as he stressed that it is a special "pleasure" to host his Turkish counterpart.
Erdogan, on the other hand, said he is very pleased to be in the White House and is happy that his visit coincides with the 80th UN General Assembly, which he and Trump attended earlier this week.
Speaking in Turkish, Erdogan said that Trump and he could take Turkey-US relations to a much higher level. Erdogan further added that the two leaders have an opportunity to discuss the F35 and F16 fighter jets during the meeting.
Trump then added that he and Erdogan would hold discussions and reach some great trade deals for both countries. He said the US could lift sanctions on Turkey almost immediately. Recall that during Trump's first term in office, his administration imposed sanctions on Turkey, barring the country from buying American-made F-35 fighter jets after it purchased a Russian air defense system.
“ If we have a good meeting, almost immediately. We will discuss the F-35. And I think he will be successful in buying the things that he would like to buy. I know he wants the F-35 and he has wanted it, and we are talking about it very seriously. … He needs certain things, and we need certain things. And we will come to a conclusion ,” Trump added.
The US president further said he hopes Turkey will stop buying oil from Russia, which is financing the war in Ukraine.
" I would like him to stop buying oil from Russia, while Russia continues its rampage against Ukraine, and they've been fighting. They've lost millions of lives already, and for what, you know, for what? Shame ," Trump said.
Trump then continued to praise the Turkish president and the military power he has built.
" It's an honor to have him in the White House. We're going to make some great trade deals for both countries. We do a lot of business with Turkey. They build great products. They build beautiful, great products, really fantastic manufacturers, and we buy a lot from them, and they buy a lot from us ," Trump said.
Erdogan did not directly respond to Trump's comments on Russia, but said he looked forward to discussing Turkish-American relations. Trump then added that the Russians really respect Erdogan and that he could play a big role in achieving peace if he wanted to.
" They really respect Erdogan. I respect him and I think he could have a big impact, if he wanted to. Right now, he's very neutral. He likes to be neutral. I like to be neutral too. But he's someone who, if he gets involved, the best thing he can do is not buy oil and gas from Russia ," Trump continued.
The president stressed that he was "very disappointed with Putin" for prolonging the war, criticizing the Russian president for showing little territorial gains despite punitive airstrikes on Ukraine.
"Despite the heavy bombing over the last two weeks, they have gained virtually no ground. And I will never call anyone a paper tiger, but Russia spent millions and millions of dollars on bombs, missiles, ammunition and lives, their lives, and they have gained virtually no ground ," he added.
A reporter asked if Trump is on the same page with Erdogan on the war in Gaza, but he dodged the question by stating that he had a meeting with the leaders of Middle Eastern countries and that a ceasefire agreement is very close.
"We had a great meeting the other day at the UN General Assembly, as you know, and I think we're, I think we're close to reaching some kind of agreement. Yes, we want, we want to return the hostages. We have to return the hostages. I met with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates. We met with Jordan. We had a really great meeting. I think a lot of things were determined in that meeting," Trump said.
Asked how quickly a pact could be reached, the president said he would have to discuss it with Israel.
" I think we can finish this. I hope we can finish it. A lot of people are dying, but we want the hostages back," he added.
Trump further told reporters on Thursday that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is "responsible" for helping liberate Syria from the Assad regime.
" I think President Erdogan is responsible for Syria, for the successful war in liberating Syria from its former leader. And I think this man is responsible. He doesn't take responsibility. But it's actually a great achievement ," Trump said.
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