Russia, Turkey and Azerbaijan have launched a trilateral format of cooperation, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said at a press-conference following the talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Tuesday, RBC reports.

He expressed hope that Russia and Turkey will together take “all the necessary steps to normalize their relations”.

“As a result of those steps, I hope that the axis of Moscow-Ankara friendship will be restored,” the Turkish President added.

At the press-conference, Erdoğan  also stated that Russia and Turkey are ready to normalize the relations between the two countries, calling Putin “dear friend Vladimir”.