President of Russia, Vladimir Putin (L) shaking hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) at Presidential Complex in Ankara during an official visit.

:: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that the Iraqi Kurdish independence referendum had no legitimacy and Russia and Turkey agreed that the territorial integrity of Iraq and neighboring Syria must be preserved.

In a brief statement after talks with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, Erdogan also said the Kurdish Regional Government in northern Iraq must be prevented from making “bigger mistakes”.

Maintaining de-escalation zones in Syria

Erdogan said Turkey would continue to cooperate closely with Russia for a political solution in Syria.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that the de facto conditions needed to end Syria’s civil had been achieved.

Putin’s comments, which followed talks with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, come as Russia, Turkey and Iran cooperate on maintaining de-escalation zones in Syria.