Turkey's Defence Ministry said on Friday that they had 'neutralised' 21 Syrian government troops at about 4 pm on 5 March after its two soldiers had been killed in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib.

Two artillery systems and two MLRS belonging to Syrian government forces were destroyed by Turkish drones, it added.

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"We are now experiencing the moment in our relations when they reached their peak. This, without doubt, applies to the defense industry, and trade relations, and so on," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Vladimir Putin. "We believe that the biggest task is to promote and develop our relations. I believe that we will succeed in this matter."

Putin was also of the opinion that Turkey-Russia ties should be preserved, whatever challenges arise. "We need to talk through the whole current situation so it won't repeat itself and won't harm our relations," he said, adding that Russia "treasures" its ties with Ankara.

During the Thursday meeting, Putin expressed his condolences over the death of Turkish troops in Syria, describing the loss as "a big tragedy." He stressed that the Syrian Army had been unaware of the Turkish forces' location, which the Russian defense ministry had earlier said were not supposed to be in the area, according to Ankara's own memo.

Attributed to the Syrian military, the airstrike prompted Turkey to deploy thousands of troops, tanks and drones into Idlib. The Turkish army also declared any Syrian military asset a legitimate target. As Putin acknowledged during the meeting, the situation in Idlib reached its boiling point. "Now the situation in the well-known zone in Idlib has become so grave that it certainly requires our personal conversation."

Erdogan in turn hailed the importance of the meeting as the whole world "has eyes on Moscow." He believes that "the steps that will be taken today and our decisions will undoubtedly ease the situation."

While the much-awaited meeting started seamlessly, the developments on the ground showed some cracks in Turkey-Russia ties. As Ankara demanded that Russia press President Bashar Assad into halting hostilities in Idlib, Moscow accused Turkey of failing to act on its promise to clear the 'de-escalation zone' of jihadist groups.

The leaders of Russia and Turkey have agreed a ceasefire plan for Syria's Idlib and security measures for the troops stationed there to prevent the escalation in the militant-infested province from spiraling into an all-out war.

The document, signed after the negotiations, underlined that both Moscow and Ankara remained committed to maintaining the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Syria.

Both leaders acknowledged that the conflict in the country has no military solution and that it was up to the Syrians alone to decide the fate of their country. It was also agreed to facilitate efforts to prevent the humanitarian crisis in Idlib, while also creating conditions for the refugees to return to their homes.

Turkey pledged in a 2018 agreement with Russia that it would separate terrorist elements from the so-called "moderate rebels" occupying Idlib — a commitment which Moscow says has not been honored.

President Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and President Vladimir Putin of Russia had a 160 minute long talk under 4 eyes and another round with their relevant staff. The parties agreed on a new ceasefire in Idleb governorate.

© Unknown

The aim of the current Syrian army operation is largely fulfilled. The M4 and the M5 highways will be free of Jihadis and open to traffic.

This ceasefire is unlikely to hold over a longer period. But it brings a useful pause for the Syrian army that will allow it to recover a bit and to take care of its men and equipment.

This for now also ends the Turkish thread to attack the Syrian army and to reconquer all areas it had liberated over the last months.

Erdogan, who had made many demands, saw none of them fulfilled. The agreement will cost him political points within his party.

© Unknown
@Hevallo @Hevallo - 18:08 UTC · Mar 5, 2020
Best thing for me from the Moscow meeting between Erdogan and Putin was the subservient stature of the Turkish delegation in front of Putin and standing under the statue of Catherine the Great who defeated the Turks several times during the XVIII century.

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