ANKARA, December 25. /TASS/. Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke by phone to discuss the situation in Syria and security issues, the Turkish Defense Ministry said in a statement.

"A telephone conversation took place between National Defense Minister Yasar Guler and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on December 24. The sides discussed bilateral relations and regional defense and security issues, especially in Syria," the statement said.

Earlier, Turkish officials demanded that Kurdish armed formations in Syria, which Ankara regards as terrorists, should cease operations and disband themselves. Turkey said it stands ready to help the new Syrian authorities with that. Ankara has long complained about US support for these formations, insisting it should stop.