Kremlin Could Host Erdogan-Assad Meeting In Aug

Russian state outlet RIA reporting that following a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad in Moscow, that there is the prospect of "a possible meeting between Assad and Turkish leader Recep Erdogan, which, as reported, could take place in Moscow in August. The Kremlin said that Russia , like other countries, is interested in improving relations between Turkey and Syria." The Kremlin reports that Putin and Assad discussed the prospect of such a meeting during their talks.

• Following an initial report in Turkish outlet the Daily Sabah, gov't officials in Ankara sought to quash any such rumours, with Reuters reporting"The diplomatic source, [...] said there was no plan for an Erdogan-Assad meeting in August in Moscow."
• Nevertheless, reports continue to swirl following Erdogan's comments earlier in July, stating that “We believe that it is beneficial to open clenched fists...We want disputes to be resolved through mutual dialogue at the negotiation table.”
• Erdogan and Assad have been on the opposite side in the Syrian Civil War since its outbreak in 2011, with Ankara providing support to the anti-Assad Free Syrian Army.
• Increasing ethnic tensions between Turks and the (minimum) 3.1mn Syrians that have crossed the border since the start of the conflict now sits as a major political issue for the Erdogan gov't.
• CNN reports "...overcoming a bitter, years-long personal feud and extremely complex relations between Ankara and Damascus will be no small feat. Turkish troops remain in control of a swath of Syrian territory along the Turkish border where Syrian opposition groups are sheltering."