Putin calls Merkel, Macron to discuss Syrian crisis

The three leaders sides exchanged views on the Syrian issue, including the multiple ceasefire violations in Idlib by radical armed groups

Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin took the charge to discuss about the Syrian crisis with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron.

"The sides comprehensively exchanged opinions on the Syrian issue, including the multiple ceasefire violations in Idlib by radical armed groups. The Russian president informed his colleagues about joint efforts with Turkey on stabilizing the situation in Syria's north-west, on protecting civilians and neutralizing terrorist threats," the Kremlin said after the three leaders held a telephonic conversation.

Media quoted Kremlin as reporting: "Special attention was paid to prospects of forming and launching a constitutional committee, with the consideration of agreements reached in October 2018 at the four-party summit (Russia, Turkey, Germany, France) in Istanbul. The sides agreed to continue coordinating efforts in the framework of political settlement of the Syrian crisis on the basis of UN Security Council Resolution 2254, in accordance with principles of ensuring Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

The move came hours after the attack launched by the rebel groups against Russian backed Syrian army in which 40 combatants died. And on Monday, during Russian air strikes 10 people, including five children were killed.

War in Syria is the result of breaking a truce which was brokered by Russia and Turkey in 2018.