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Putin backs US-brokered security zone in Syria during Erdogan's Moscow visit

Moscow has put its support behind a US-brokered security zone along the border between Turkey and Syria.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin  during a joint news conference following their talks on the sidelines of the MAKS-2019 International Aviation and Space Salon in Zhukovsky outside Moscow, Russia, August  27, 2019. Maxim Shipenkov/Pool via REUTERS - RC1D82A22C80

Russian President Vladimir Putin backed the idea of establishing a security zone along Turkey's border with Syria. Putin aired his support following talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Moscow today. He was referring to ongoing efforts between Turkey and the United States to set up a security zone along Turkey's border with Kurdish-controlled northern Syria to avert conflict between Turkish forces and the United States' Kurdish allies whom Ankara calls terrorists.

Speaking at a joint news conference, Putin said, “Turkey is shouldering a huge refugee load. We are well aware of this [and] understand Turkey's concern over the security of its southern borders. We believe these are legitimate concerns.”

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