Erdoğan, Putin talk Syria, bilateral relations in phone call

The conversation generally focused on bilateral relations, recent developments in Syria and the fight against terror, according to presidential sources.

Erdoğan also informed Putin of the Euphrates Shield operation in Syria’s Jarablus launched by the Turkish military and the U.S.-led coalition to sweep the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) jihadist group from the border. The leaders also pointed to the significance of a joint fight against all terror organizations for the security of the region.

The two leaders meanwhile came to an agreement to accelerate efforts on delivering humanitarian aid to Aleppo.

Erdoğan and Putin are expected meet at the G-20 summit in China in September and hold a bilateral talk.

The leaders met on Aug. 9 in St. Petersburg, putting bilateral ties back on track nine months after Turkey downed a Russian jet for violating its airspace. 

It also marked Erdoğan’s first foreign trip since the July 15 failed coup attempt.