Russia urges Türkiye not to conduct military operation in Syria

The Russian president’s special envoy to Syria Alexander Lavrentiev has said that Russia has urged Türkiye not to conduct an operation in northern Syria and continues persuading Türkiye.

Lavrentiev made these remarks at a press conference following the 18th international meeting on Syria in the Astana format, according to TASS.

“A final decision about the meeting has not been made yet, therefore we have appealed and are appealing to our Turkish partners to refrain from conducting military operations in Syria. We told our Turkish friends that this could further escalate the situation and could even result in armed confrontation. This can stimulate the separatist sentiments of the so-called autonomous administration of northeastern Syria, in which Türkiye, Russia, Iraq and Iran are not interested,” he said.

He noted that Türkiye will not completely solve the problems of its national security by conducting a new military operation in northern Syria.

“We think and have frankly said that the military operation will not solve all the current problems, and will not completely solve the problems of Türkiye's national security. I think that the problems of Türkiye's national security can be solved only when the Syrian government forces take full control of the borders of the territories. Unfortunately, we have not seen this yet, Kurdish self-defence units are still there,” Lavrentiev added.