ISTANBUL (AP) – The Latest on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s trip to Syria, Egypt and Turkey: (all times local):
10:15 p.m.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized the U.S. administration’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, warning that it could destabilize the region and derail the Middle East peace process.
From left, Syrian President Bashar Assad, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu watch the troops marching at the Hemeimeem air base in Syria, on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. Declaring a victory in Syria, Putin on Monday visited a Russian military air base in the country and announced a partial pullout of Russian forces from the Mideast nation. (Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Speaking Monday after a hectic day that took him from a Russian base in Syria to Cairo to Ankara, Putin said the Trump administration’s move “doesn’t help the Mideast settlement and, just the opposite, destabilizes the already difficult situation in the region.”
The Russian leader added that it may “finish prospects for the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.”
He added that Moscow believes the status of Jerusalem can only be settled through talks between the Palestinians and Israel in line with United Nations resolutions.
___
8:15 p.m.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Ankara to meet his Turkish counterpart, following visits to Syria and Egypt.
Putin and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are meeting Monday evening to discuss developments in Syria and the Middle East, as well as bilateral relations, according to the Turkish president’s office.
Putin and Erdogan met several times this year and regularly talk on the telephone as they and Iran work to broker a solution in Syria.
Relations between the two countries were tense after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet for violating its airspace in 2015. But the two have since restored bilateral relations.
Putin and Erdogan are expected to hold a joint news conference after their meeting.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, poses for a photo with Russian military pilots at the Hemeimeem air base in Syria, on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. Declaring a victory in Syria, Putin on Monday visited a Russian military air base in the country and announced a partial pullout of Russian forces from the Mideast nation. (Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sissi news conference following their talks in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/pool photo via AP)
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, shakes hands with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, left, prior to their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. Declaring a victory against “terrorists” in Syria, Putin earlier on Monday visited a Russian military air base in the country and announced a partial pullout of Russian forces from the Mideast nation.(Pool Photo via AP)
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, shakes hands with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, left, prior to their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. Declaring a victory against “terrorists” in Syria, Putin earlier on Monday visited a Russian military air base in the country and announced a partial pullout of Russian forces from the Mideast nation.(Kayhan Ozer/Pool Photo via AP)
From left, Syrian President Bashar Assad, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu watch the troops marching at the Hemeimeem air base in Syria, on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. Declaring a victory in Syria, Putin on Monday visited a Russian military air base in the country and announced a partial pullout of Russian forces from the Mideast nation. (Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, shakes hands with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, left, prior to their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. Declaring a victory against “terrorists” in Syria, Putin earlier on Monday visited a Russian military air base in the country and announced a partial pullout of Russian forces from the Mideast nation.(Kayhan Ozer/Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends his and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sissi news conference following their talks in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/pool photo via AP)
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sissi, speaks during his and Russian President Vladimir Putin news conference following their talks in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/pool photo via AP)
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, shakes hands with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, left, prior to their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. Declaring a victory against “terrorists” in Syria, Putin earlier on Monday visited a Russian military air base in the country and announced a partial pullout of Russian forces from the Mideast nation.(Kayhan Ozer/Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sissi news conference following their talks in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/pool photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sissi, shake hands after a news conference following their talks in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/pool photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sissi, arrive to attend a news conference following their talks in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/pool photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sissi news conference following their talks in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/pool photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, 2nd left, and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, left, chat with Russian military pilots at the Hemeimeem air base in Syria, on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. Declaring a victory in Syria, Putin on Monday visited a Russian military air base in the country and announced a partial pullout of Russian forces from the Mideast nation. (Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.