For a long time, Russian-Turkish relations were based on a certain formula: “The economy is the economy. Politics is politics. And they shouldn’t be mixed.” This formula worked successfully until Nov. 24, 2015, when Turkey shot down a Russian jet. 

Relations between the two countries, which used to be friendly and were even described as “a strategic partnership,” were severely damaged in just one moment. 

A year later, on Dec. 5-6, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim will visit Moscow to meet with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev and President Vladimir Putin. The visit could help accelerate the ongoing normalization process between two countries. The main agenda of the Yildirim-Medvedev meeting will include economic cooperation between the two countries. But Russia seems to feel no urgency in the matter.

Last year, Turkish authorities said they were well within their rights to protect the country’s borders when Moscow violated Turkish airspace. Russia had a different opinion. Putin described the incident as a "stab in the back" committed by "accomplices of terrorists.” As a result, Moscow had to reconsider the “never the twain shall meet” formula. In retaliation for Turkey shooting down its plane, Russia imposed economic sanctions. The period of separating politics and the economy was officially over.