"We have a common goal which is the Syrian crisis settlement. Considering this common approach, this platform, we will look for common solutions," Putin said.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups. A US-Russia-brokered ceasefire came into force across Syria on February 27. It does not apply to terrorist groups such as Daesh and Jabhat Fatah al Sham (al-Nusra Front), both outlawed in many countries, including Russia.
The meeting in Russia’s Saint Petersburg is focused on the restoration of relations with Turkey, as Ankara and Moscow ended months of strained relations in late June when Erdogan wrote a letter to Putin, in which he apologized shooting down a Russian bomber over Syria in November.
Following Erdogan's move, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree lifting restrictions on Russian citizens travel to Turkey, specifically a ban on charter flights to the country and selling tour packages to Turkey.
