"Russia Facilitates Constructive Talks Between Turkey, Iran, and Syria"

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu hosted four-way talks with counterparts from Syria, Turkey, and Iran aimed at normalizing ties between Ankara and Damascus. The parties discussed practical steps to strengthen security in Syria, normalizing Syrian-Turkish relations, and the fight against extremist groups in Syria. The Kremlin seeks to mend ties between Damascus and Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which would give President Vladimir Putin diplomatic clout with Russia isolated internationally over Moscow's offensive in Ukraine.