Kremlin discloses agenda for Russian FM's Ankara talks

Russian presidential press secretary Dmitriy Peskov has not ruled out the possibility that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will discuss a possible Turkish military operation in Syria with his Turkish counterparts during his visit to Ankara.

"It can be assumed with a high degree of confidence that this topic will certainly be discussed by the minister during his upcoming contacts," Gazeta.ru quotes the Kremlin spokesman as telling a briefing.

Earlier, a number of Turkish officials said that Russia and its allies in Syria had strengthened positions around several cities where an operation is allegedly planned. 

"You are talking about the sovereign territory of the Syrian Arab Republic. The armed forces of this state are strengthening to a greater or lesser extent certain objects on their territory," the Russian president's press secretary stressed.

Earlier, Peskov reported that Lavrov would take part in a meeting in Türkiye on the export of grain from Ukraine.