After the recent escalation of tensions in Idlib, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will leave for Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 5.

In an effort to strengthen his hand before the visit, Erdoğan has reiterated his call for support from NATO. After Erdoğan’s phone talk with French President Emmanuel Macron, Turkish Directorate of Communications announced that Erdoğan said he expected NATO’s concrete and clear solidarity during phone call.

“Noting the refugee influx started to put pressure on Turkey’s European borders, Erdoğan said he expected from Europe and France to offer concrete solutions and support for displaced people,” the statement said.

Before that, Erdoğan also talked with US President Donald Trump over the phone. According to reports, the two presidents discussed several issues concerning Syria, including Patriots.

In a statement on the ongoing conflict in Idlib, Turkish Minister of Defence Hulusi Akar named the occupation operation they have been carrying out in the region. Akar said; “The ‘Operation Spring Shield’ launched in the wake of the heinous attack in Idlib on February 27, continues with success.”

Stating that talks between Ankara and Moscow are ongoing, Akar said; “Our expectation from Russia at this point is to fulfill its commitments as the guarantor country, and in this context, to use its influence on the regime to make it halt its attacks and withdraw to the borders set with the Sochi agreement.”

In the meantime, Russian Ministry of Defence refuted the “reports based on the sources of militants that a Russian Su-24 warplane has been downed in Idlib on Sunday.”