Russia Says Planning Three-Way Talks with Iran, Turkey on Syria

"The situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone is of serious concern to us and our Turkish partners," Putin said on Tuesday at a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after talks near Moscow.

Putin added that the two leaders had agreed "additional joint steps" to "normalize" the situation in Idlib, but did not provide details.

The Russian leader said Moscow will arrange the three-way talks in mid-September.

The talks will center mostly on Idlib, which has seen a surge in fighting since August 8, he added.

Erdogan said last week that a major offensive by Syrian forces against militants in Idlib province "very seriously" threatened Turkey's national security.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that the Syrian military’s offensive in Idlib did not violate any agreements with Turkey.

Syrian troops have encircled militants in northwest Syria in an offensive to reclaim territory and towns they lost early in the war.

Moscow and Ankara last year struck a deal to create a buffer zone around Idlib -- the last major bastion of militant groups.

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