The Kremlin says Turkey has a ‘official proper’ to guard its safety, after Ankara launched assaults on alleged Kurdish positions.
The Kremlin has stated Russia respects Turkey’s “official” safety considerations over Syria however claimed all events there ought to keep away from steps that would worsen the scenario.
On Sunday, Turkish forces launched cross-border air raids in northern Syria and Iraq on what they stated have been positions of Kurdish teams they blame for the November 13 bombing in central Istanbul, that killed six individuals.
On the identical day, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated Ankara could deploy floor forces.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed reporters on Tuesday that whereas there have been disagreements between Russia and Turkey of their strategy to Syria, Moscow understood Turkey’s safety considerations.
“We perceive and respect Turkey’s considerations about making certain its personal safety. We imagine that is Turkey’s official proper. On the similar time, we name on all events to chorus from steps that would result in the destabilisation of the general scenario,” he stated.
Ankara blamed the outlawed Kurdistan Staff’ Get together (PKK) and affiliated Syrian Kurdish teams for the Istanbul assault, which additionally noticed greater than 80 individuals wounded.
Kurdish fighters have denied any involvement.
The Turkish defence ministry stated its so-called Claw Sword operation – which additionally included land-fired weapons – killed 184 fighters and destroyed 89 targets together with shelters, bunkers, caves and tunnels.
Washington, like Moscow, referred to as for de-escalation.
Russia helps Syrian President Bashar al-Assad within the nation’s 11-year battle, whereas Ankara has backed rebels preventing to topple him.
The Kremlin’s light name for restraint got here as Ankara positions itself as a mediator between Moscow and Kyiv within the Ukraine battle, which started on February 24 with Russia’s invasion.
Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin have loved a heat relationship all through the battle, with common cellphone calls and conferences.
Turkey has good relations with Ukraine, too, because the provider of drones and different weapons.