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Putin, Erdogan may meet in first half of 2019 — Kremlin

According to the Kremlin, the Russian president was not planning to meet with the Turkish government’s delegation, which is due to arrive in Moscow on December 29

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin

© AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool

MOSCOW, December 28. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan may hold a meeting in the first six months of 2019, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday.

"This [meeting] is possible next year, in the first half," Peskov said. The spokesman noted that the Russian president was not planning to meet with the Turkish government’s delegation, which is due to arrive in Moscow on December 29 for talks with their counterparts. "No," Peskov said in reply to a question whether Putin would meet with Turkey’s foreign and defense ministers, who will come to Moscow for talks in the "2+2" format. "Presidential aides will be present there," Peskov said, noting that among Russian participants will be Presidential Aide for International Affairs Yuri Ushakov.

Peskov declined to predict the agenda of the upcoming Russian-Turkish negotiations. Peskov declined to predict the agenda of the upcoming Russian-Turkish negotiations. "All issues [related to the situation in Syria - TASS] will be discussed at the highest level there."

The Kremlin spokesman noted that he would not hold a meeting on Saturday with his counterpart, Turkish Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin, who is taking part in the Turkish delegation as an adviser on foreign policy issues. "That’s why in this case Ushakov will be there," Peskov explained.

According to Peskov, Russian-Turkish talks in Moscow on Saturday are aimed at "fully clarifying and synchronizing steps and understanding on further developments in Syria."

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