Russian President Vladimir Putin had a meeting with permanent members of the Security Council.

The discussion focused on the final stage of preparations for the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi.

Also on the agenda was the situation in Afrin and in that context the President informed the participants that he had discussed the matter over the phone with Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Meeting participants also touched upon current domestic socioeconomic issues.

Earlier it was reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed in phone talks with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura on Friday the preparations for the upcoming Syrian National Dialogue Congress.

"The Russian minister reiterated the special importance of this event for the success of the political settlement of the Syrian crisis in full accordance with the parameters set forth by UN Security Council Resolution 2254," the ministry said in a statement.

Ankara started Olive Branch operation in Syria on January 20. It is conducted mainly against the Kurds of Afrin, as Turkey accuses them of shelling their territory. Damascus strongly condemned the Turkish aggression.