Putin, Erdogan say happy with Syria congress in Sochi

Moscow (Reuters): Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan yesterday to discuss the outcome of a Russian-sponsored conference on reaching peace in Syria, held this week in the Black Sea resort town of Sochi.

The Russian president’s press service said that Putin and Erdogan agreed they were satisfied with the results of the Sochi congress and also discussed their cooperation in maintaining de-escalation zones in Syria. They also agreed to step up efforts to form observation posts in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib.

The two leaders also stressed in a telephone call the importance of Tuesday’s Russian-sponsored conference on the conflict in Syria, despite problems at the meeting.

Erdogan shared information with Putin regarding Turkey’s incursion into Syria’s Afrin region, the source added.

Russia says hundreds killed in Turkish operation in Syria’s Afrin

MOSCOW (Reuters): Several hundred people, including civilians, have been killed during Turkey’s military operation in Syria’s Afrin, Interfax news agency cited Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying on Wednesday.