Ukraine, Syria top Lavrov's agenda in Turkey

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is due to visit Turkey June 8 as Ankara looks for a Russian or US nod to press ahead with a new military intervention against Kurdish-held areas in northern Syria.

Though Lavrov’s talks in Ankara are expected to focus on the Ukraine war and its economic ramifications for Turkey, their importance has grown amid Ankara’s intervention threats. Asked about the issue last week, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said that Russian officials need to talk with their Turkish counterparts first, adding that Defense Ministry officials would accompany Lavrov on the trip. A Foreign Ministry spokesperson expressed hope that Ankara would avoid moves that would make matters worse in the war-ravaged country.