Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) during their joint press conference after Russian-Turkish meeting at Bocharov Rucheu State Residence at Black Sea resort on October 12, 2019 in Sochi, Russia. Erdogan is having a one-day trip to Sochi to talk with Vladimir Putin on situation in Syria.
- Russia and Turkey on Tuesday reached an agreement that would expand their control in Syria and minimize Kurdish territory.
- The deal between the two powers follows a US decision earlier this month to withdraw its remaining troops in Syria.
- Here are the winners and losers from the agreement, and what it means for the region's future.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Russia and Turkey on Tuesday reached an agreement that would expand their control in Syria and minimize Kurdish territory as the US begins to withdraw its troops from the country.
The 10-point memorandum was signed between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Tuesday.
As part of the deal, which will go into effect at noon on Wednesday, Russian military police and Syrian border guards will enter the Syrian side of the Turkish-Syrian border, and will push the Kurdish-led People's Protection Units (YPG) and their weapons back to 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the border.
Under the agreement, the area, currently under Kurdish control, will soon be patrolled by Russian and Turkish military forces. It will be transformed into a "safe zone," or buffer, between Turkey and Kurdish forces.
According to the BBC, Kurdish groups have yet to confirm whether they agree to the deal.
Turkey and Russia both hailed the agreement as "historic." Critics like Sen. Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that the US has now "been sidelined" as a decision-maker in the conflict.
"Russia and the murderous Assad regime are calling the shots," Menendez said at a hearing on Tuesday.
Here are the winners and losers from the agreement: