President Vladimir Putin landed in Istanbul, Turkey, where he is expected to discuss the Syrian peace settlement with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Angela Merkel.

The leaders will be joined by UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura. They are expected to assess the Syrian peace process and exchange ideas in relation to the situation on the ground.

Russian and Turkish defense and foreign ministers had earlier held separate meetings on this issue.

Putin had also discussed Syria in a phone conversation with French leader Emmanuel Macron. During the talks, Macron suggested extending the Idlib ceasefire agreement and firmly condemned the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian conflict.

READ MORE: Putin & Erdogan agree Idlib buffer zone to avert new Syria crisis

Last month, Russia and Turkey agreed to establish a buffer zone in the northwestern Idlib province, which is considered the last remaining stronghold of the anti-government militants. According to the deal, all armed militants, including the Al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra, are to be cleared from the area.

Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!