Turkish, Russian presidents talk Syria, other issues

ANKARA

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed recent developments in Syria over the phone on Wednesday, according to the Turkish Communications Directorate.

Apart from Syria, the two leaders spoke about bilateral ties and regional issues.

On Oct. 9, Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists from northern Syria, east of the Euphrates River, in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

On Oct. 22, Turkey reached an agreement with Russia on a deal to force the terrorist YPG/PKK to withdraw from a planned terror-free zone.

In a televised interview Monday, Erdogan said the deal with Russia and a similar deal with the U.S. have failed to yield the expected results.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is its Syrian offshoot.

* Writing by Faruk Zorlu