Russia considers Turkey's possible military incursion in Syria unwise

Russia considers Turkey's possible military incursion in Syria unwise
Moscow has criticised Turkey's proposed incursion into northern Syria as unwise, according to Russia's Syria envoy Alexander Lavrentyev.
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Russia has been a key player in Syria's war for years, allying with Assad's regime [source: Getty]

Russia considers Turkey's possible military operation in Syria unwise as it could escalate and destabilise the situation, the RIA news agency cited Russia's Syria envoy Alexander Lavrentyev as saying on Wednesday.

Lavrentyev also said Moscow no longer considered Geneva a suitable venue for talks between Syrians, according to the TASS agency.

The Russian envoy was in Kazakh capital Nur-Sultan on Wednesday for talks with Turkey, Iran, and the Syrian regime and rebels.

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Ankara says it must act in Syria because Washington and Moscow broke promises to push the predominantly Kurdish group YPG 30 km (18 miles) from the border after a 2019 Turkish offensive, and says attacks from YPG-controlled areas have increased. 

Ankara have also said a new incursion will allow for the "voluntary" transfer of Syrian refugees in Turkey back to "safe zones" in their homeland.