Russia understands Turkey's security concerns over the situation in Syria, but calls on all sides to avoid steps that could complicate the situation, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, RIA Novosti reported.

"We understand and respect Turkey's concerns about its own security. We believe that this is Turkey's legitimate right," Peskov said, responding to a question about how the Kremlin views Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statement that the Russian side has allegedly not fulfilled its obligations "to cleanse" Syrian regions of Kurdish armed formations under a 2019 agreement.

Peskov noted that Russia calls on all sides "to refrain from steps that could lead to serious destabilization of the situation as a whole." "This could boomerang back, further complicate the security situation," the Kremlin spokesman stressed.

Earlier, Russian presidential special envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev said that Moscow calls on Ankara for restraint in light of the strikes on Syrian territory, it is impossible to allow escalation of tension.