Putin, Erdogan call for de-escalation in East Jerusalem

MOSCOW, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan the latest violent clashes in East Jerusalem in a telephone conversation Wednesday, the Kremlin said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 5, 2020. (File photo: AFP)

Both leaders expressed deep concern over the ongoing clashes in the region and the rising death toll, urging all parties to "peacefully resolve emerging issues."

They reaffirmed their support for a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on international law, and emphasized the role of the Middle East Quartet (consisting of Russia, the European Union, the United Nations, and the United States) in the negotiating process.

Furthermore, the Turkish leader expressed his deepest condolences to the victims of a school shooting on Tuesday in the Russian city of Kazan that resulted in dozens of casualties.

According to the Kremlin, Putin confirmed that Russia is ready to supply its Sputnik V vaccine against the COVID-19 pandemic to Turkey.

The Russian president also congratulated Erdogan and the Turkish people on the upcoming end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.