Russian President Vladimir Putin held phone talks with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan in which the latter explained his remarks on Syria, Russian Aide to the President Yury Ushakov said Thursday.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said earlier in the week that the Turkish armed forces’ military operation in Syria was designed to put an end to the rule of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

“I can only say that a telephone conversation took place yesterday between our President and Erdogan, and the topic was addressed,” Ushakov told reporters, according to Sputnik.

Asked whether Erdogan has explained his statement, Ushakov said “yes, he gave an explanation,” without clarifying whether it Putin deemed it satisfactory.

Earlier, Russia demanded an explanation from Turkey over Erdogan remarks.

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters the Kremlin wanted Turkey to explain themselves after the shock statement, Russian media reported.

He said: “The statement was indeed news, this is a very serious statement. [It] is in discord with the previous [statements] in general and with our understanding of the situation.”

Source: Agencies