Putin and Erdogan discuss a truce tomorrow in Syria and S-400 missiles

Turkish officials said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold talks tomorrow Wednesday on reducing renewed violence in Idlib (northwestern Syria), as well as the possibility of expanding sales of Russian military defense systems in Ankara. .

Putin will host the Turkish president in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, where Erdogan will push for a return to the ceasefire agreed last year to end an offensive by the Russian army and the Syrian regime against Turkish-backed fighters in the Syrian province of Idlib.

The ceasefire prevented another major military escalation, but insurgents say Russia stepped up air strikes around Idlib last week.

“We are committed to the principles of the agreement we have reached with Russia,” Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told reporters. “We also expect the other party to honor their responsibilities under the agreement,” he added.

For its part, the Russian Defense Ministry said that work continues to implement the previously reached Russian-Turkish agreement on Syria, including the organization of patrols on both sides in which the Russian military police participate. He said there were heavy bombings by extremist fighters in thearea of Idlib.

The smoke of the battles in Idlib this September

The smoke of the battles in Idlib this September

Russia claims that its forces are in Syria at the official request of Bashar al-Assad and that the presence of other forces is an obstacle to the reunification and reconstruction of the war-torn country.

Turkey has thousands of soldiers in northern Syria and supports anti-Assad fighters who, with the help of Moscow, have been pushed back in a small pocket of land on the border with Turkey.

Last March, Turkish air and ground forces halted an offensive by the Russian army and the Syrian regime that had displaced a million people from their homes, bringing Ankara and Moscow closer to direct confrontation and threatening another influx of migrants. in Turkey, which hosts 3.6 million Syrian refugees.

Three Turkish officials said the main target of the Sochi talks would be Syria. For his part, Erdogan said that part of the talks will be between him and the Russian leader, in absence of delegations from the two countries.

“This means that the most sensitive issues will be discussed in the most open way,” said a Turkish official, asking not to be named. “Some critical decisions may need to be made, especially in light of developments in Syria, “he added.

missile defense

For its part, the Kremlin said the two leaders will discuss Syria and Afghanistan, as well as economic relations and regional issues. Turkey and Russia have established close cooperation in the energy, tourism and defense sectors despite their differences over Syria, as have Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh, which are different countries.

A batch of S-400 missiles has arrived in Turkey in 2019

A batch of S-400 missiles has arrived in Turkey in 2019

NATO member Turkey bought Russian S-400 defense missile batteries in 2019, causing sanctions on its defense industries by Washington, which warned of further action against Ankara if it buys more Russian military equipment.

Erdogan indicated last week that Turkey still intended to receive a second batch of S-400 missiles, saying no country could impose its decision on Ankara.

Officials told the Turks that the S-400 missile issue would be discussed in Sochi between Putin and Erdogan.

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