WESTERN governments are said to be concerned at the deepening of relations between Russian and Turkey after the countries struck a number of deals on Friday. 

President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a four-hour meeting where they agreed to boost co-operation in the transport, agriculture, finance and construction industries. 

The two leaders also agreed to switch part of Turkey’s payments for Russian gas to roubles, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told reporters after the talks.

Neither side confirmed what portion of the gas will be covered by rouble payments. 

“As Turkey, our door is open to everyone,” Mr Erdogan told Turkish reporters on his flight home from the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi.

“One good thing about this Sochi visit is that we agreed on the rouble with Mr Putin,” he said, adding: “Since we will conduct this trade in roubles, it will of course bring money to Turkey and Russia.”

Not paying for the gas in dollars helps Turkey protect its dwindling hard currency reserves as the country struggles with a deep economic crisis marked by rampant inflation. 

Consumer goods prices have risen by 80 per cent and Mr Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Develeopment Party has lost support in the run-up to next year’s elections. 

But according to the Financial Times, Western governments have warned that Turkey will face consequences if it helps Russia evade sanctions placed on it by the European Union and United States. 

Ankara mediated a deal signed by Ukraine, Russia and the United Nations in Istanbul last month under which grain exports resumed from Black Sea ports. 

Mr Putin and Mr Erdogan said that there was a need for the “full implementation of the Istanbul agreement, including the unimpeded export of Russia’s grain, fertiliser and raw materials for their production.”