/RUSSIA: Turkey Closes Its Skies To Russian Aircraft To Syria

Turkey will not extend the permission for Russian military and civilian aircraft en route to Syria to pass through its airspace, Foreign Minister Cavusoglu said on Saturday.

• “We were giving permissions in three-month intervals. The latest one was until April,” Cavusoglu noted, adding that "the flights have stopped."
• Cavusoglu reiterated that Turkey is not participating in international sanctions against Russia over the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
• Turkey's chief diplomat noted that a draft peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine is in the making. Ankara is proposing that Presidents Zelensky and Putin meet in Istanbul once the text of the peace deal is completed.
• However, Cavusoglu was sceptical about potential for imminent agreement, noting that "it might not happen for a long time, but it can happen suddenly."