Russia and Turkey remain at odds over trade restrictions imposed after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane near the Syrian border in 2015. Russia and Turkey can “change the destiny of the whole region” together, Erdogan told Putin, who said relations between the two countries are acquiring a special status. Syria’s opposition is sceptical about the Russian initiative, which calls for the creation of four buffer zones patrolled by forces that could include troops from Russia, Turkey and Iran. Putin and Erdogan may discuss grain supplies to Turkey at the talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Putin discussed Syria along with other issues with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Sochi on Tuesday.

Source: Mint May 03, 2017 15:45 UTC