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Erdogan Hopes for Idlib Cease-fire in Putin Talks

VOA News

   Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday he hopes to reach a
   cease-fire deal for Syria's Idlib province during talks this week with
   Russian President Vladimir Putin.

   The two leaders are due to meet Thursday in Moscow.

   Turkey and Russia back competing sides in the Syrian conflict, which
   has increasingly turned violent in Idlib and sent one million people
   fleeing the area.

   Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday that Russia and
   Turkey are keeping lines of communication open as they focus on
   negotiations.

   On Sunday, Turkey's Defense Ministry said though it is "successfully"
   continuing its military operation in northwestern Syria against the
   Russian-backed Syrian forces, the Turkish government has no "desire or
   intention to clash with Russia."

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