Erdogan To Meet Putin In Russia Next Month 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left) greets Russian President Vladimir Putin as he officially arrives for the G20 summit in Antalya, Turkey, in November 2015.

Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister says President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Russia next month for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the first meeting between the two leaders as Ankara and Moscow mend ties following Turkey's apology for last year's downing of a Russian jet.

Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency quoted Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek as saying on July 26 that Erdogan and Putin would meet in St. Petersburg on August 9.

Russia had imposed sanctions on Turkey after it shot down a Russian warplane at the Syrian border, causing the death of a Russian pilot.

The two countries patched up relations after Erdogan sent a letter to the Russian leader in June that expressed condolences to the dead pilot's family.

Putin called Erdogan earlier this month to express his support after the failed coup attempt in Turkey.The Kremlin confirmed at the time that the two leaders would meet in the near future.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP