Skip to main content

Intel: Erdogan abandons balancing act in Syria, targets Russia

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Russia directly for the first time in a long while in the wake of the recent escalation in northwestern Syria.

RTS2XMQ9.jpg
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends a ceremony marking the formal launch of the TurkStream pipeline, which will carry Russian natural gas to southern Europe through Turkey, in Istanbul, Turkey, Jan. 8, 2020. — REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Russia directly for the first time in a long while in the wake of the recent escalation in northwestern Syria. 

Lashing out at intense Russian airstrikes in and around Idlib, Erdogan said Russia “doesn’t comply” with the 2018 Sochi agreement to establish a demilitarized zone around the last stronghold of the Syrian rebels where the Syrian regime's advances continue.

Subscribe for unlimited access

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more

$14 monthly or $100 annually ($8.33/month)
OR

Continue reading this article for free

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more.

By signing up, you agree to Al-Monitor’s Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Already have an account? Log in