Putin noted the importance of taking into account the interests of all ethnic groups in Syria

“The President of Russia emphasized that achieving long-term and stable stabilization in the Syrian Arab Republic is possible only on the basis of respect for the principles of unity and territorial integrity of the country,” the Kremlin’s press service said.

Putin and Merkel also stated the importance of the first meeting of the Constitutional Committee of the SAR scheduled for late October.

Earlier, Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced plans to discuss at a meeting with Putin in Sochi on October 22 a new stage in the implementation of steps on Syria, as well as to agree on the withdrawal of Kurdish formations from Syrian Manbij.

In the Kremlin, commenting on the Turkish military operation in the north of the SAR "Source of Peace", they called on Ankara to act in proportion to the situation.