Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed developments in the Middle East during a phone Friday.

According to Qatar News Agency, the Kremlin stated that the two leaders exchanged in-depth views on the ongoing escalation of military and political confrontation in the Middle East. Both sides emphasized that the intense fighting in the region is leading to serious negative consequences, not only regionally but also globally, including in the energy, trade, and logistics sectors.

The statement also noted that they discussed further steps to expand Russian-Turkish political, trade, and economic relations, particularly the implementation of joint strategic projects in the energy sector.