Great self-confidence, but also great caution. This has been the maxim of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in his relationship with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin since the start of the Russian war against Ukraine. A complex seesaw policy between the superpowers. „At the moment, I trust Russia just as much as I trust the West,“ said Erdoğan in a memorable interview with the US TV station PBS in September.