OP-ED

Walter Russell Mead: What Erdogan’s pivot to Putin means

By Walter Russell Mead.

Published Oct. 14, 2016 at 8:12 pm

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R), Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliev (2nd L) and Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim (L) attend the 23rd World Energy Congress on October 10, 2016 in Istanbul. Erdogan, who has in the past opposed Russia's claim to Crimea, now says he will discuss with President Putin a prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia.

Photo by AFP

The Financial Times outlines just how Turkey’s rapprochement with Russia may play out in Syria – an important read:

Rebel-held eastern Aleppo looks as though it will either fall or be razed to the ground in the face of relentless Russian bombardment from the air and under siege from Iran-backed militia on the ground.