Russia and Turkey are preparing for talks on how to de-escalate fighting in Syria’s Idlib province, the TASS news agency reported on Monday, citing Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, according to Reuters.
“Another series of consultations, which we hope will lead us to an agreement on how to ensure that this is indeed a de-escalation zone and that terrorists do not operate there, is being prepared for now,” Lavrov was quoted as saying.
Talks last week in Moscow had failed to produce any solution to the conflict.
Turkey and Russia in 2018 had reached an agreement regarding Syria’s Idlib province where they had pledged to create a de-escalation zone and separate moderate armed Syrian rebels from radical extremists.
Following intensified attacks on the region by Syrian government forces, Ankara accused Moscow of breaking its promises, while Russian officials claimed the Turkish government had failed to separate the rebels from the extremists.
The region, with a civilian population of some 4 million, poses the danger to Turkey of a new migrant influx.
Nearly a quarter of the population, according to the United Nations, has already been displaced and has migrated towards the Turkish border.