Relations between Russia and Turkey soured last November when Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet near the Syrian border. In response, Russia imposed trade sanctions on Turkey. Relations between the two countries later improved.  But what brought about this sudden turnabout?

In June, the Kremlin said President Erdogan had apologised for the downing of the fighter jet. And following the failed military coup in Turkey on July 15th, Putin phoned Erdogan to voice support for order.

In August, Putin announced that Moscow would phase out sanctions against Ankara after meeting Erdogan in St. Petersburg. And in October, Putin visited Erdogan in Istanbul to focus on pushing through energy deals with Turkey.