TEHRAN (Iran News) – Russia’s Vladimir Putin and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed Turkey’s military offensive in Syria and Northeast Syria Situation, in a phone call, Turkey’s presidency said. Turkey launched its cross-border offensive one month ago, saying it aimed to drive Kurdish forces from the border region and create a “safe zone” to settle […]
TEHRAN (Iran News) – Russia’s Vladimir Putin and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed Turkey’s military offensive in Syria and Northeast Syria Situation, in a phone call, Turkey’s presidency said.
Turkey launched its cross-border offensive one month ago, saying it aimed to drive Kurdish forces from the border region and create a “safe zone” to settle Syrian refugees.
It halted its advance under a deal with the United States which called for the withdrawal from the border of Kurdish YPG fighters – whom Ankara considers being terrorists.
Erdogan later agreed a separate deal with Moscow, which also called for the YPG to withdraw at least 30 km (nearly 20 miles) from the border, but has since said that neither Washington nor Moscow has been able to deliver on the deals.
The Turkish statement on Saturday said Erdogan and Putin confirmed their commitment to the accord they struck at a meeting in the Black Sea resort of Sochi which also paved the way for joint Russian-Turkish military patrols inside Syria, Reuters reported.
It said the two presidents also discussed bilateral trade but gave no further details.
The Turkish president is due to hold talks with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday.
Last month in a meeting, Mr. Erdogan was also rebuked by Mr. Putin for risking a revival of the Islamic State as the aftermath of Northeast Syria situation. Distracted by the invasion, Kurdish fighters have been unable to carry out anti-ISIS operations, and several ISIS militants have escaped Kurdish-run jails.
“It is important to make sure,” Mr. Putin said as Mr. Erdogan stood beside him, “that members of terrorist organizations, including ISIS, whose militants are kept by Kurdish armed formations and are trying to escape, would not use the opportunity created by the actions of Turkish forces.”
- source : Tasnim, Irannews
