Russian President Vladimir Putin said that if the US goes through with its plan to pull out of Syria, it may positively affect the stability in the north-east of the Arab Republic.
"If such steps will indeed be taken, it will be a positive change. It will help stabilize the situation in this troubled region of the Syrian state, which is currently under control of Kurdish forces", Putin said.
Putin said that Russia supports Damascus' efforts to establish a dialogue with Kurdish representatives amid the American pull-out.
Erdogan on Fighting Terrorism in Syria
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has promised that Turkey, together with Russia, will continue its fight against terrorists in Idlib province. He also reaffirmed Ankara's readiness to fight against Daesh* and the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in Syria. Erdogan added that it's crucial to prevent the creation of a power vacuum in the region after US troops pull out.
The Turkish president further said that Moscow and Ankara have so far had "no problems" in discussing a future buffer zone in Syria. He added that negotiations regarding its parameters are currently ongoing.
Washington announced the withdrawal of its troops stationed in Syria within three months in the middle of December 2018. US President Donald Trump noted that American troops had eliminated Daesh* and could now return home.
READ MORE: Erdogan: Terror Attack in Manbij, Syria May Be Aimed to Influence US Withdrawal
However, their withdrawal sparked concerns that Turkey could attack the US' Kurdish allies, especially after Ankara announced a new military operation in Syria soon after the White House declared the withdrawal of American troops. Erdogan assured that Turkish forces would only target terrorists, including Kurds involved with the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK), which is deemed a terrorist organisation by Ankara.
*Daesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) is a terrorist organization banned in Russia
