Turkey does not consider withdrawing its troops from Syrian Idlib, where Ankara has 12 observation posts, said Turkish defense minister Hulusi Akar.

According to him, the withdrawal of troops is out of the question, the Anatolian Agency reported. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan have agreed on a ceasefire and other steps aimed at stabilizing the situation in Syria’s Idlib province at the talks in Moscow.

According to the agreements, the hostilities in Idlib should be terminated along the entire line of contact after the ceasefire comes into force on March 6. Russia and Turkey will begin joint patrolling along the M-4 road in Syria on March 15, where a security corridor will be set up.

Moscow and Ankara reaffirmed their commitment to preserving Syria’s sovereignty and agreed to continue the fight against terrorism.