Turkey’s Erdogan discusses Syria situation with Putin by phone, Ankara says

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the renewed outbreak of conflict in Syria with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone, Erdogan’s office said in a post on X on Tuesday.

Erdogan and Putin spoke as Syrian opposition fighters advancing against government forces pushed close on Tuesday to the major city of Hama, the opposition and a war monitor said, after their sudden capture of Aleppo last week rocked President Bashar al-Assad.

Erdogan told Putin that Turkey supports Syria’s territorial integrity and strives for a just and lasting solution in Syria, the statement said.

“President Erdogan highlighted the importance of making more room for diplomacy in the region and underscored that the Syrian regime should engage in the political solution process,” it said. Erdogan also said that Syria should not become a source of greater instability.

“Erdogan stated that Turkey will continue to maintain its determined stance on the fight against the terrorist organization PKK and its extensions who are trying to take advantage of the recent developments in Syria,” the statement said.