Putin pays tribute to Turkey's founding leader Ataturk

Russian President Vladimir Putin started his one-day visit to Turkey in Ankara on Monday with a visit to the resting place of Turkey's founding leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Anitkabir.

Putin's delegation consists of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak, Minister of Justice Aleksandr Konovalov, Minister of Transportation Maksim Sokolov, Minister of Labor and Social Protection Maksim Topilin and Minister of Economic Development Aleksey Ulyukayev.

Arriving at the Anitkabir at around 1:45 p.m. local time (1145GMT), Putin walked behind Turkish soldiers towards the Anitkabir through the path known as the Road of Lions.

Putin left a wreath of red and white carnations at Ataturk's tomb and then headed to a special room to write in Ataturk's Memorial Book in Russian.

He thanked Ataturk for his contribution to the development of relations between the two countries.

He will then head to the newly-built Presidential Palace of Turkey to meet President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, where the two heads of state will hold a bilateral meeting.

After the meeting, Putin and Erdogan will co-chair the fifth High-Level Cooperation Council between Turkey and Russia.

Putin and Erdogan are expected to review the full spectrum of bilateral relations, including the implementation of strategic joint projects in the energy sector.