Putin and Erdogan arrange ceasefire in Syria
Russia supports Assad, Turkey backs the rebels
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan say they have reached agreements that could end fighting in north western Syria.
They say a ceasefire will come into force in Idlib at midnight. The deal also envisages setting up a seven-mile-wide security corridor which will be jointly patrolled by Russian and Turkish troops, starting on March 15.
Mr Putin said he and Mr Erdogan reached agreement on a joint document during the talks in Moscow that lasted for more than six hours.
Both Russia and Turkey appear eager to avoid a showdown, but the sharply conflicting interests in Idlib province make it difficult to negotiate a mutually acceptable compromise.
Both leaders underlined the need to reach agreement at the start of the Kremlin talks.
Mr Putin said they need to work out steps to end fighting and prevent damage to bilateral relations. Mr Erdogan also voiced hope for finding a settlement and pointed at blossoming RussiaTurkey trade.
A Russia-backed Syrian offensive to regain control over Idlib, the last opposition-controlled region, has pushed nearly a million Syrians into Turkey.
Mr Erdogan responded by opening Turkey’s gateway to Europe in an apparent bid to coerce the West to offer more support to Ankara.
Turkey has sent thousands of troops into Idlib to repel the Syrian army, and clashes on the ground and in the air that have left dozens dead on both sides.
Russia, which has helped Mr Assad reclaim most of the country’s territory, has signalled it would not sit idle to see Turkey rout his troops.
Mr Putin offered his condolences to Mr Erdogan over Turkish losses in a Syrian airstrike, but noted that Syrian troops also suffered heavy losses.
“We need to discuss the situation to prevent any such incidents and also not to damage
TAKING SHELTER: A man and a toddler are among migrants in an abandoned building in Edirne, Turkey.
Russia-Turkey relations that we cherish,” the Russian leader said.
“The world’s eyes are on us,” Mr Erdogan said. “The steps we will take, the right decisions we will take here today will help ease (concerns in) the region and
our countries.” Just before sitting down with Mr Erdogan, Mr Putin discussed the situation in Idlib with European Council head Charles Michel who met the Turkish president in Ankara on Wednesday.
The Kremlin said Mr Michel informed Mr Putin about the EU’s efforts to block the flow of migrants.
The fighting in Idlib comes as the most severe test to RussiaTurkey ties since the crisis triggered by Turkey’s downing of a Russian warplane near the Syrian border in November 2015.
Russia responded with an array of sweeping economic sanctions, cutting the flow of its tourists to Turkey and banning most Turkish exports, a punishment that eventually forced Turkey to back off and offer apologies.
Turkey cannot afford a replay of that costly crisis, far less a military conflict with a nuclear power, but it has a strong position to bargain with.
Moscow needs Ankara as a partner in a Syrian settlement and Russia’s supply routes for its forces in Syria lie through the Turkish Straits.
The world’s eyes are on us. The steps we take will help ease concerns.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s president