Putin to discuss Syria with Turkey PM Erdogan

Russian President Vladimir Putin is to meet Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss the Syrian conflict, which has strained bilateral relations.
Moscow is a key ally of Syria, while Ankara is backing the rebels trying to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. In October, Turkey intercepted a Syria-bound plane which it said had Russian-made defence equipment – a claim rejected by both Moscow and Damascus. The talks in Istanbul are also expected to focus on energy issues.
Ahead of Monday’s meeting, Mr Putin’s chief foreign policy aide was quoted as saying that both sides would have a “detailed conversation” on Syria.
Yuriy Ushakov also said he hoped that such an “exchange of views should lead, if not to a tie-up of positions, then at least to a better understanding of each other’s actions”, Russia’s Interfax news agency reported. There is a belief in the Turkish government that Russia is trying to distance itself from Damascus, but there is currently very little evidence to support this claim. Moscow also has arms contracts with the Syrian government worth billions of dollars. So, Mr Putin and Mr Erdogan may struggle to find a way of overcoming the simple, profound difference that separates them on the Syria issue, our correspondent adds.