Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on September 11 that Moscow hopes Russian President Vladimir Putin can pay a visit to Turkey for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan once preparations are completed.

Peskov added that Putin and Erdogan might be able to hold talks on the sidelines of an upcoming BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan.

Erdogan, meanwhile, was reported by Turkey’s state-run news provider Anadolu Agency as affirming in a video message to the Fourth Crimea Platform Leaders Summit held on September 11 that the "return of Crimea to Ukraine is a requirement of international law."

In his remarks, he did not mention that it is Russia that is occupying Crimea, but added: "Our support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence is unwavering."

A Black Sea neighbour of both Ukraine and Russia, Ankara attempts to stay on good terms with both Kyiv and Moscow, pursuing its own policy in relation to the Ukraine war rather than the sanctions-driven policies of fellow Nato members.

Since last year, Putin has postponed several official visits to Turkey.

Middle East Eye on September 10 cited sources familiar with Russian thinking as saying that Putin’s conditions to visit Ankara were the primary reason for the constant delay, with one condition being that he would like to fly to Turkey with Russian fighter jet escorts, possibly concerned by Ukraine's ability to shoot down aircraft on the flight route between Russia and Turkey.

“Moscow’s demand to fly in with Russian fighter jets, and also possibly land them in Turkish territory, is a complicated matter, as Nato air-defence systems in the country could perceive such aircraft as enemy targets,” wrote the publication.

The last time Putin visited Ankara was in 2014.