Putin, Erdogan discuss humanitarian situation in Syria's besieged areas
The situation in Eastern Ghouta was discussed in the context of the implementation of UN Security Council 2401, a Kremlin readout stated late on Tuesday.
The UN resolution was passed with Russia's support on February 24. It called ceasefire throughout Syria with the exception of military operations against ISIS, al-Qaeda, and the al-Nusra Front.
As of Tuesday, the deaths of 805 civilians have been documented by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights since Russian-backed Syrian-regime loyalists launched an assault on February 18 into Eastern Ghouta, a besieged Damascus suburb.
Putin also stressed resolving humanitarian problems.
An International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Syrian Arab Red Crescent aid convoy was destined for Ghouta on Monday.
UN officials said the convoy was stripped of medical supplies by Syrian-regime loyalists and cut short of its mission.
"We delivered as much as we could amidst shelling," UNHCR's Syria representative Sajjad Malik tweeted. "Civilians are caught in a tragic situation."
Russia and Iran have been regime leader Bashar al-Assad's primary backer in the civil war, while Turkey has backed opposition groups. All state players in Syria claim to be fighting "terrorism."
According to the Kremlin, Erdogan expressed his condolences in connection with the crash of a Russian military transport plane in Syria.
An Antonov-26 plane crashed at Russia's Khmeimim airbase in Latakia governorate on Tuesday, killing all 39 on board. Russia's defense ministry has denied that the plane was shot down.
Erdogan informed Putin about the operation of the Turkish military in Afrin, added the Kremlin.
The president's office in Ankara office did not issue an immediate statement.
Erdogan's spokesperson said on Wednesday that Ankara expects Ghouta situation to calm.
"We expect to see a significant calming [in tensions in Eastern Ghouta region] in the next few days, as per Mr. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's instructions. It will be our main topic in the phone call," Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin said, according to Turkey's Anadolu Agency.
Kalin added Turkey uses "using every means possible" in order to achieve results in Eastern Ghouta.
Kalin revealed Erdogan would call Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday afternoon.
Last updated at 2:40 p.m.