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| Syria, Iraq & S-400: Putin arrives in Turkey to meet Erdogan | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin has landed in Turkey to meet his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan as relations between the two states continue to thaw. The situation in Syria and de-escalation zones are expected to be the main issues on the table. | |
| The leaders held a phone conversation on Monday in which they discussed Syria, including de-escalation zones – an initiative proposed by Russia and also brokered by Iran and Turkey – and political settlement of the crisis, according to the statement from the Kremlin. | The leaders held a phone conversation on Monday in which they discussed Syria, including de-escalation zones – an initiative proposed by Russia and also brokered by Iran and Turkey – and political settlement of the crisis, according to the statement from the Kremlin. |
| The parties agreed to further discuss the Syria issue during Putin’s visit to Turkey on Thursday. The leaders will meet in the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Erdogan’s office said in a statement. | The parties agreed to further discuss the Syria issue during Putin’s visit to Turkey on Thursday. The leaders will meet in the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Erdogan’s office said in a statement. |
| Bilateral relations between Turkey and Russia will also be on the table during the meeting, the statement added. | Bilateral relations between Turkey and Russia will also be on the table during the meeting, the statement added. |
| On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the presidents had discussed the independence referendum of Iraqi Kurdistan on Monday. | On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the presidents had discussed the independence referendum of Iraqi Kurdistan on Monday. |
| The topic of S-400, Russia’s most advanced missile systems which Ankara is planning to purchase, remains hotly-discussed in the media. It’s not yet clear whether Putin and Erdogan will discuss it. | The topic of S-400, Russia’s most advanced missile systems which Ankara is planning to purchase, remains hotly-discussed in the media. It’s not yet clear whether Putin and Erdogan will discuss it. |
| Turkey confirms deposit on Russia’s state-of-the-art S-400 missile systemsSpeaking about military cooperation between Moscow and Ankara, Peskov said on Wednesday that “no one has a right to criticize it.” | Turkey confirms deposit on Russia’s state-of-the-art S-400 missile systemsSpeaking about military cooperation between Moscow and Ankara, Peskov said on Wednesday that “no one has a right to criticize it.” |
| Moscow-Ankara cooperation is performed “in strict accordance with international law and in no way is directed against any third country,” he said. | Moscow-Ankara cooperation is performed “in strict accordance with international law and in no way is directed against any third country,” he said. |
| READ MORE: Turkey confirms deposit on Russia’s state-of-the-art S-400 missile systems | READ MORE: Turkey confirms deposit on Russia’s state-of-the-art S-400 missile systems |
| Earlier in September, Putin’s aide on military-technical cooperation, Vladimir Kozhin, said that the contract has been “agreed upon,” and Ankara added that a deposit has been paid. | Earlier in September, Putin’s aide on military-technical cooperation, Vladimir Kozhin, said that the contract has been “agreed upon,” and Ankara added that a deposit has been paid. |
| The deal signals closer cooperation with Moscow and a widening rift with its NATO allies, which have criticized the deal, claiming that the Russian system may be incompatible with those of NATO. | The deal signals closer cooperation with Moscow and a widening rift with its NATO allies, which have criticized the deal, claiming that the Russian system may be incompatible with those of NATO. |
| US Defense Secretary James Mattis said in July that S-400 anti-aircraft systems are “not going to be interoperable with NATO systems.” | US Defense Secretary James Mattis said in July that S-400 anti-aircraft systems are “not going to be interoperable with NATO systems.” |
| Erdogan rebuffed the critics, saying Ankara had no intention of waiting for the protection of its NATO allies. | Erdogan rebuffed the critics, saying Ankara had no intention of waiting for the protection of its NATO allies. |
| “They have gone crazy because we made a deal for S-400s,” Erdogan said. | “They have gone crazy because we made a deal for S-400s,” Erdogan said. |
| “What do you expect? Should we wait for you? We take care of ourselves in every security point,” he added. | “What do you expect? Should we wait for you? We take care of ourselves in every security point,” he added. |
| S-400 delivery to Turkey will start within two years, Defense Undersecretary Ismail Demir said on Monday, as cited by Anadolu news agency. | S-400 delivery to Turkey will start within two years, Defense Undersecretary Ismail Demir said on Monday, as cited by Anadolu news agency. |
| This is the second visit of the Russian leader to Turkey since the improvement in relations after downing of the Russian jet by Turkish forces in November 2015. | This is the second visit of the Russian leader to Turkey since the improvement in relations after downing of the Russian jet by Turkish forces in November 2015. |
| Relations between the two states began to thaw in June 2016 after Erdogan sent a letter to the Kremlin apologizing for the pilot’s death. | Relations between the two states began to thaw in June 2016 after Erdogan sent a letter to the Kremlin apologizing for the pilot’s death. |
| Putin visited Istanbul in October 2016 to discuss Syria, as well as stalled energy projects and bilateral trade. | Putin visited Istanbul in October 2016 to discuss Syria, as well as stalled energy projects and bilateral trade. |