Erdogan, Putin talk on phone about Syria

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke Thursday on the phone with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin about a ceasefire agreement in Syria set to begin at midnight local time (2200 GMT) on December 30.

Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said Assad regime and the Syrian opposition had agreed to a countrywide ceasefire, adding that Turkey viewed this as a “significant step”.

"Turkey, with Russia, supports it as guarantor countries," Kalin said, according to Anadolu agency.

But the ceasefire does not include terrorist groups listed by UN Security Council, Kalin added.

Erdogan and Putin also discussed an upcoming meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan where representatives of Assad regime and opposition will meet under Turkey and Russia’s guidance.

The Astana meeting is part of efforts between Turkey and Russia to launch a political process in Syria.