MOSCOW. Oct 25 (Interfax) - In working with Turkey on the memorandum on Syrian settlement, Russia proceeded from the notion that any agreements achieved had to be in line with the interests of Damascus, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said.
"The talks were very complex, and don't forget that the Turkish side pursues its own goals," Peskov told reporters late on Thursday.
He also urged for "calling things by their proper names" and said that "the Russian side is the only side that legitimately has its armed forces in the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic."
"So we simply had to compare interests and make it so that this is a beneficial and mutually acceptable situation. And from our point of view, to make sure that the situation is acceptable for Damascus," Peskov said.