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Acute crisis in Syria's Idlib requires our direct talks, Putin says as he meets Erdogan in Moscow Acute crisis in Syria's Idlib demanded our direct talks, Putin says as he meets Erdogan in Moscow
(32 minutes later)
Dozens of Turkish troops died in a Syrian airstrike because no one knew they were there, Putin told Erdogan, adding the crisis in the Syrian province is so dire that direct talks between the two leaders are needed. Dozens of Turkish troops died in a Syrian airstrike as no one knew they were there, Putin told Erdogan, stressing the crisis in the Syrian province is so dire that a personal conversation between the two leaders is needed.
“At the beginning of our meeting, I want to once again express my sincere condolences for the loss of your troops in Syria,” Vladimir Putin told Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the closely-watched one-in-one in Moscow,referring to last week’s airstrike in Idlib that saw 34 Turkish troops killed on Syrian soil. Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the deaths of 34 Turkish troops in last week's airstrike in Idlib, as the two sat to the closely-watched one-in-one in Moscow.
“Unfortunately, as I already told you in a telephone conversation, no one, including the Syrian troops, knew about their location,” the Russian President reiterated.“Unfortunately, as I already told you in a telephone conversation, no one, including the Syrian troops, knew about their location,” the Russian President reiterated.
Attributed to the Syrian military, the airstrike prompted Turkey to deploy thousands of troops, tanks and drones into Idlib, the last remaining province of Syria still in the hands of anti-government militants. Attributed to the Syrian military, the airstrike prompted Turkey to deploy thousands of troops, tanks and drones into Idlib, the last remaining Syrian province still in the hands of anti-government militants.
The Turkish army also declared any Syrian military asset a legitimate target; Turkey and Syria engaged in sporadic skirmishes with casualties on both sides. As Putin acknowledged during the meeting, the situation in Idlib reached its boiling point. The Turkish army also declared any Syrian military asset a legitimate target. As Putin acknowledged during the meeting, the situation in Idlib reached its boiling point.
“We need to talk through the whole current situation so it won’t repeat itself and won’t harm our relations,” the President stressed. Russia, he pointed out, “treasures” its ties with Turkey.“We need to talk through the whole current situation so it won’t repeat itself and won’t harm our relations,” the President stressed. Russia, he pointed out, “treasures” its ties with Turkey.
Taking the floor, Erdogan said the meeting “is of great importance” as the whole world “has eyes on Moscow.” He believes that “the steps that will be taken today and our decisions will undoubtedly ease the situation.” Erdogan in turn hailed the importance of the meeting as the whole world “has eyes on Moscow.” He believes that “the steps that will be taken today and our decisions will undoubtedly ease the situation.”
While the much-awaited meeting started seamlessly, the developments on the ground showed some cracks in Turkey-Russia ties. As Ankara demanded that Russia press President Bashar Assad into halting hostilities in Idlib, Moscow accused Turkey of failing to act on its promise to clear the ‘de-escalation zone’ of jihadist groups.
Nevertheless, both Moscow and Ankara set their hopes high for the meeting in Moscow.
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