Russia to not bargain with Turkey over Syria and Ankara's position in NATO - TASS

Russia is not going to turn a blind eye to Turkey's new military operation [INVASION el etos] in northern Syria in exchange for Ankara's position on Finland and Sweden joining NATO, Alexander Lavrentyev, Russia's special presidential envoy for Syria, told reporters on Wednesday.

"As for possible exchanges [on Turkey's position] on Finland and Sweden joining NATO in exchange for turning a blind eye to the operation [of Turkey in northern Syria] - there is no such thing. We are not bargaining. We are not giving up on our allies in the region," he said when asked whether Moscow would turn a blind eye to any part of Turkey's operation in northern Syria in exchange for Ankara continuing to block Finland and Sweden from joining NATO.

"This is out of question, this is just talk," the special envoy stressed.