Fidan, Lavrov discuss Syria, Ukraine over phone

ANKARA

Turkish and Russian top diplomats, Hakan Fidan and Sergey Lavrov, respectively, held a phone call recently to discuss recent developments in Syria and Ukraine, diplomatic sources said on Feb. 6.

The two ministers focused on Syria and Ukraine as well as bilateral ties during the phone conversation without giving details, the sources said.

Syria entered a new era after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's rule, which was receiving the full support of Russia during the civil war in the country. The change of power in Syria has weakened Russian influence in Syria amid uncertainty about the future of two large Russian bases in the Middle Eastern country.

Ankara and Moscow were partners of the Astana Process with the participation of Iran, but the mechanism has become futile following the historic takeover of the control of Syria by the oppositional groups.

Türkiye and Russia are still in contact over Syria as Russia’s Syria envoy, Alexander Lavrentyev, was in Ankara in the past days to exchange views on the developments.

On Ukraine, Türkiye has long been proposing to mediate a lasting agreement between Russia and Ukraine to end the war between the two countries. Prospects for an agreement between the two warring countries have increased after Donald Trump took office as the 47th president of the United States.

Trump said he is planning to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war.