Militants in Syria Plotting Provocations with Use of Toxic Agents

"Our common strategic goal is an ultimate defeat of terrorists, who continue attempts to destabilize the situation on the ground, try to derail efforts to advance a peace process," Putin told reporters after a summit meeting of Russia, Turkey and Iran - the guarantors of the Astana process, TASS reported.

Putin added that terrorists employ all possible means, stressing that "We have received hard evidence that militants are plotting provocations with the use of toxic agents".

He stated that with this in view, the participants in the Ankara summit "agreed to build up three-party coordination on all aspects of anti-terrorist fight, increase the information exchange".

The Russian leader thanked his Turkish and Iranian counterparts "for substantial and productive negotiations".

"I am confident that necessary practical measures will be taken on the heels of the summit, and the results will contribute to further productive work in the interests of finally having peace and stability in Syria," the Russian President summed up.

Putin noted the importance of a Russian-Turkish-Iranian statement on Syria that voices support for the country's sovereignty and unity on the background of attempts to aggravate the confrontation there.

"We reached important agreements that are reflected in the final joint statement," he said after the completion of the Russian-Turkish-Iranian summit, adding that "I'd like to note the firm commitment to the consolidation of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic that the document spells out."

"Position of this kind is particularly significant today on the background of attempts to aggravate the inter-ethnic and inter-religious tensions in Syrian society," Putin said.

He added that these attempts aimed "[…] to spilt the country into parts and to assure the potential for conflicts in the Middle East for many long years to come."

Syria’s restoration is hardly possible without huge capital investments, Putin said, adding that Moscow urges all countries to join the process.

"Apart from political settlement it is necessary to make sure that people live in normal conditions, and nothing can be done without huge capital investments, particularly, from outside. We urge all countries of the world to be actively taking part in fact rather than in word," he said.

Almost no countries participate in providing humanitarian aid to Syria, except for Russia, Turkey and Iran, with only small supplies through the United Nations, the President noted.

"But it is absolutely not enough, and it is definitely necessary to join common efforts on restoration of the Syrian economy, on infrastructure restoration," Putin added.

Putin is confident that the refugee problem can only be tackled by resolving conflicts that force people to flee their homes.

"We only need to resolve these conflicts so that there won’t be more refugees," Putin said during a press conference covering the results of the Syria summit between Russia, Iran and Turkey.

Putin chose not to answer a question about his stance on the EU countries’ failure to keep their promise about accepting Syrian refugees in greater quantities.

"This is a question meant for them. For our part, we try to keep our promises," Putin stressed, adding that "And if we fail to keep one, we explain why we encountered problems and when we can carry out what was promised."

The Russian leader also noted the great amount of pressure that Turkey faces due to an influx of Syrian refugees.

Putin mentioned that this situation is not unique and that Russia in particular faces pressure because of the influx of Ukrainian refugees.

Putin added that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s humanitarian offers in Syria had been discussed during the summit.

According to Putin, they spoke about combining their efforts in order to help Syrian civilians in de-escalation zones and across the country by using Russian, Turkish and Iranian medical services, as well as military medics.

"We will have to consider the practical side of this issue," President Putin stressed, adding that "I think that this offer is sound and timely. We will work on it and certainly keep up our efforts in this direction."