Putin-Erdogan talks about who controls oil-rich parts in Syria

Erdogan praised before the meeting that the “region is going through a significant period of”.

“I believe that this meeting will benefit the region, which is going through a significant period --” said Erdogan, sitting next to Putin, the DPA reported.

The Turkish president said meeting the two leaders was a very serious “option”.

While Putin voiced hope that close relations between their countries would make it easier to find a solution to the conflict in Syria.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said today that Turkish offensive in Syria is a violation of Syria's territorial integrity, Reuters reported, citing Interfax.

Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Simomoltov said only Russian and Iranian soldiers have the legal right to be in Syria.

He also added that he expects Soci's meeting to clarify who controls rich parts of northeastern Syria.

Erdogan had earlier warned Syrian Kurds to leave territory where a safe zone had to be created by 2200 p.m. this evening, when the five-day ceasefire expires under the agreement reached between Turkey and the US.

Erdogan said the withdrawal of the Kurdish militia is still under way and that Turkey now controls more than 2,000km of Syrian territory on its southeast border.

Turkey is demanding that Syrian Democratic Forces fighters (SDF) led by Kurds leave the area along the 444km border and in the depth of 32km, considering those terrorists linked to Kurdish rebels in Turkey.

Erdogan also said today that he has nominated British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to hold a summit on Syria with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Erdogan said he would be hired on condition that the summit be held in Istanbul or in the border towns of Sanliurfi or Gaziantep.