Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said before the talks began that they would focus on the situation in and around Idlib, as well as “what can and should be done” when the U.S. withdraws from Syria. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Russia and Turkey have a “shared will on cleaning Syria from all terror organizations,” and added Turkey would continue its “close co-operation” with Russia and Iran in Syria and the region. Turkish-backed Syrian opposition fighters said they have started moving along with Turkish troops to front-line positions near the town as a show of readiness. The Russian side was represented in Saturday’s talks by Foreign Minister Lavrov, Defence Minister Shoigu, and Kremlin foreign affairs aide Yuri Ushakov. The Turkish delegation includes Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin, intelligence chief Hakan Fidan and Defence Minister Hulusi Akar.

Source: National Post December 29, 2018 13:18 UTC