ANKARA: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he asked Russian President Vladimir Putin for assistance in ensuring the Syrian government engages with Ankara to normalise ties, according to broadcaster NTV and others, adding he hoped Damascus would be constructive.

Speaking to reporters on a flight back from Russia’s Kazan where he attended a BRICS summit, Erdogan said Ankara expected Damascus to take steps with the understanding “that a sincere and realistic normalisation will benefit them too”, NTV cited him as saying on Friday.

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“Russia’s influence over the Syrian government is known… We had a request to Mr. Putin to ensure the response of (Syrian President) Bashar al-Assad to our call. Will Mr. Putin make a call for Assad to take this step? We leave that to time,” he was cited as saying.