By Azernews

By Kamila Aliyeva

A meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan kicked off in Sochi on May 3, RIA Novosti reported.

The Russian leader congratulated the Turkish president on referendum victory.

Speaking on the Moscow-Ankara ties, Putin said that gradual restoration of the internal political situation in Turkey will create conditions for the steady development of relations with Russia.

"We proceed from the understanding that the internal political situation will be eventually restored and this will create extra conditions for the steady development of Russian-Turkish relations," Putin said.

He underlined the importance of having a chance to meet in due course and discuss key issues of bilateral cooperation and major issues of international agenda, including on such pressing issues as the Syrian crisis.

"The mere fact of this regime of our joint work shows that Russian-Turkish relations are becoming of a special character and are being restored in a full format," he added.

In turn, Erdogan said that the joint steps of Moscow and Ankara can affect the Middle East region.

"Today we have a very good opportunity to discuss relations both in a bilateral format and we can consider regional issues as well. I believe that the steps we are taking together will change the fate of the region," Erdogan said.

The talks will mainly focus on a political settlement of the Syrian crisis. The leaders are expected to discuss the incident with chemical weapons in Khan-Sheikhun and the problems of joint struggle against terrorism.

The leaders will also exchange views on the entire range of Russian-Turkish relations, in particular in the context of the agreements reached at the sixth meeting of the Cooperation Council of the highest level that was held in Moscow on March 10. The issue of mutual trade restrictions is also on the agenda.

Erdogan’s visit to Sochi can be regarded as his first foreign trip after the referendum. This is an important sign that Ankara wants to discuss the complex Syrian issue with Moscow first.

Russia and Turkey along with Iran act as guarantors of a peace deal to end Syrian conflict that has killed more than 400,000 people and sent millions fleeing to neighboring countries and to Europe.