Russia-US Deal on Syria: 'Turkey Might Play Some Role'

Following his meeting with the US president on Monday on the sidelines of G20 meeting, Vladimir Putin said that the two countries may reach a deal on Syria “within the next few days” despite previous obstacles; Russian politicians suggest that it is Turkey which might have turned the tide of the issue.

Without specifying the details of his talks with Barack Obama, the Russian president said on Monday that he had “grounds to believe” that results on Syria may be achieved “within the next few days.”

Commenting on the announcement of the Russian leader, First Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on International Affairs Leonid Kalashnikov said that there is a chance that the two countries will agree on the settlement of the long-standing conflict in the nearest future.

“There are two issues which are contributing to it,” he said in an interview with Russian online newspaper Vzglyad.

“The situation changed greatly when Turkey joined the game,” he explained.

“It came as a serious concern both to the White House and to Russia. If we do not agree today, tomorrow it will become a threat to all of us,” the politician suggested.

Syria will then follow the Libyan scenario, he said.

The politician suggested that the two countries might have found some common points and have agreed how to divide those groups fighting on the ground into “black” and “white.” In other words, they have found the way to distinguish whom to call terrorists and whom to call “moderate rebels.”

The deputy also suggested that the agreement will focus not only on the ceasefire terms but also on the role of Turkey in this military conflict.

Meanwhile Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that he proposed to the US and Russia the setting up of a no-fly zone in northern Syria.

"We are working for this region to be declared no-fly zone," Erdogan said at the G20 meeting in China, referring to the land extending from Jarabulus to Azaz in northern Syria.

"This is my proposal to Mr Putin and Mr Obama. This can be done with coalition forces," he added in his televised comments.