Russia’s Vladimir Putin has offered Turkey and the Syrian government assistance.
Russia, a close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, keeps a sizable military presence there and participates in ongoing combat operations against opposition forces.
Putin also gets along well with Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan, who is a NATO member but has attempted to mediate the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
“Please accept my deep condolences on the numerous human casualties and large-scale destruction caused by a powerful earthquake in your country,” Putin said in his message to Erdogan on Monday.
Separately, Putin told Assad that Russia shared “the sadness and pain of those who lost their loved ones” and said Russia was ready to provide help.
