Presidents Of Turkey And Russia Discuss Syria On Phone

ANKARA - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed bilateral relations and regional developments over the phone on Saturday 9 November. The two discussed the current situation in northeastern Syria, where Turkey launched operations last month and the withdrawal of YPG / PKK members from the region, the President's Office said.

They also repeated their commitment to reach an agreement on October 22 in Sochi City, Russia, by the presidents of the two countries regarding Turkey's operations in northeastern Syria. In addition, the two leaders also discussed ways to increase the value of bilateral trade.

Operation Peace Spring, launched on October 9, aims to crush YPG / PKK members on the eastern side of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey's borders, help the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria's territorial integrity.

Turkey and Russia reached an agreement under which YPG / PKK members retreated 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) south of Turkey's border with Syria and security forces from Turkey and Russia will carry out joint patrols there.

In more than 30 years of its terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK - which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US and the European Union - has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children and babies. The YPG is the PKK's Syrian branch.