Presidents Putin and Erdogan spoke by phone, addressing the escalating Syrian conflict alongside other matters.
A Tuesday phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan covered bilateral relations and other issues, notably the sharply worsening situation in Syria, according to the Kremlin.
Both leaders committed to enhanced cooperation to normalize the Syrian situation, reaffirming the crucial roles of Russia, Türkiye, and Iran in the region. Ankara initiated the call, the Kremlin added.
The Kremlin stated that President Putin stressed the urgent need to halt terrorist attacks against Syria and support the government’s efforts to restore stability and constitutional order nationwide, leveraging Ankara’s regional capabilities.
According to the Turkish presidency, President Erdogan emphasized Türkiye’s commitment to a just and lasting Syrian solution while upholding Syria’s territorial integrity.
“President Erdogan highlighted the importance of prioritizing diplomacy in the region and stressed the Syrian regime’s participation in the political process,” the Turkish statement added.
Türkiye will maintain its firm stance against the PKK and its affiliates exploiting recent Syrian events, the Turkish presidency noted, referring to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party. Türkiye’s decades-long conflict with the PKK includes its designation of Syrian Kurdish groups, such as the Democratic Union Party and People’s Defense Units, as PKK offshoots.
Syria’s situation has deteriorated significantly following a large-scale surprise attack by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied groups in the northwest. Insurgents have driven back government forces, seizing considerable territory in Aleppo and Idlib provinces.