Syria Russian statement: We are trying to persuade Turkey

While Turkey’s possible ground operation in northern Syria remained on the agenda, there was a notable statement from Russia, where voices were raised against the operation.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov stated that Russia is trying to persuade Turkey not to launch a ground operation in Syria. Mikhail Bogdanov, who is also President Vladimir Putin’s Special Representative for the Middle East and Africa, said Moscow’s talks to persuade Ankara not to launch a ground operation in Syria were successful, the RIA Novosti news agency reported.

“Contacts continue until the ground operation starts, which means there have been successes,” Bogdanov said. We will continue contact, ”he said.

ERDOGAN MEETS PUTIN

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who spoke to Putin on the phone yesterday, was recorded as stating that “according to the Sochi Agreement in 2019, it is important and a priority to clean up terrorists along the border to a depth of at least 30 kilometers. first”.

The Foreign Ministry also announced that Deputy Minister Sedat Önal reiterated his expectation that the provisions of the signed memorandum of understanding on the PKK/YPG will be fulfilled during political consultations with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin, who visited Turkey. In the past week.

Russia had previously made statements against Turkey’s operation in Syria. Russia’s ambassador to Syria, Aleksandır Lavrentyev, said last month that “Turkey should refrain from using excessive military force in Syria and seek a peaceful solution to the Kurdish issue.” Lavrentyev also said that Moscow will work with its partners to find a solution to this problem.

Qatar-based Al Jazeera television had previously reported that Russia was trying to persuade Syrian forces and PKK/YPG militants to withdraw from the Tel Rifat region to avoid a ground operation at Turkey’s request. In the news based on Turkish sources, it was claimed that Ankara gave Moscow time to comply with its demands, otherwise it would launch a military operation.

The United States, which supports the Syrian Democratic Forces, whose backbone is the PKK/YPG terror organization, also opposes the possible operation.