Russia-Turkey Military Negotiations on Idlib Revealed

The Russian Ministry of Defense considered that the military negotiations with Turkey over the situation in Syria's Idlib were constructive, stressing that its results would allow the implementation of all agreements between the two parties on this region.

"The negotiations took place in Ankara with the Turkish partners in a constructive atmosphere. The results will allow the implementation of all agreements for Idlib to reduce the escalation reached between the Russian and Turkish presidents on March 5 in Moscow," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement issued on Saturday morning.

The Ministry confirmed that, under these agreements, the first Russian-Turkish joint patrol will be conducted on the M4 road tomorrow, Sunday.

On Friday, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar stated that the military negotiations between Russia and Turkey in Ankara culminated in the signing of an agreement on the terms of the cease-fire in the Idlib region in northwestern Syria, stipulating the conduct of joint patrols on March 15 along the designated side of the M4 international road, and the establishment of coordination centers between the two sides to monitor the progress of the truce.

On March 1, Turkey announced the launch of a new military operation in Idlib, northern Syria, against the Syrian government forces in response to the "attacks" of the Syrian army on "Turkish military and civilians" in the region, which witnessed great tension between the two sides after 36 Turkish forces were killed by a Syrian army raid against terrorist organization of Tahrir al-Sham, known as HTS.

On March 5, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan reached a package of decisions to prevent tension in Idlib that includes the declaration of a ceasefire in the region from 01:00 January 6, and the establishment of a "safe passage" in specific areas of the M4 road.”

Russia and Turkey stressed in the document that "there is no military solution to the Syrian conflict, which can be settled only as a result of a political process led and implemented by the Syrians themselves, with the support of the United Nations, in accordance with Resolution 2254 of the Security Council."