Defense Ministry: trilateral talks between Russia, Turkey and Syria took place in Moscow
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Syrian Minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas and Turkish Minister Hulusi Akar held trilateral talks in Moscow. This was reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense in the telegram channel.
“The sides noted the constructive nature of the dialogue that took place in this format and the need to continue it in the interests of further stabilization of the situation in the Arab republic and the region as a whole,” the ministry said in a statement.
As clarified in the Defense Ministry of Turkey, the talks were also attended by the heads of intelligence services of the countries.
On December 15, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he offered his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin trilateral talks with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. At the same time, he noted that the special services, defense ministers and foreign ministers of the three countries should gather to start the negotiation process.
On November 20, Erdogan ordered to start the “Sword Claw” operation in the north of Syria and Iraq against the “Kurdistan Workers’ Party,” the members of which the Turkish authorities consider terrorists. Turkish side announced that the operation was aimed at preventing terrorist acts against Turks and ensuring security of borders. The military carried out air strikes in areas controlled by the Kurds, after which Erdogan admitted that the “Sword Claw” would not be limited to air strikes.
In late November, Erdoğan did not rule out talks with Assad “when the time comes,” noting that contacts between the countries are now maintained at the level of the intelligence services. The Hurriyet newspaper noted that the meeting of the two leaders may take place through the mediation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
