MOSCOW, Russia (Reuters) — Russian President Vladimir Putin held a special meeting in the Kremlin to discuss the murder of Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov on Monday (December 19).
“The committed crime is obviously a provocation designed to spoil normalisation of Russia-Turkey relations and derailing peace process in Syria which is actively promoted by Russia, Turkey, Iran and other countries interested in reconcilement of inter-Syria conflict,” Putin said.
Putin also said he had a telephone conversation with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan earlier said he had agreed with Putin that their cooperation and solidarity in fighting terrorism should be even stronger after the killing Karlov.
Erdogan called the killing a clear provocation aimed at damaging relations between Turkey and Russia at a time of normalisation.
The meeting in the Kremlin was attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, head of Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Alexander Bortnikov and head of Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin.
Putin said the fight against terrorism will be ramped up.
“The answer to this can only be strengthening of fight against terror and the bandits will feel the difference,” Putin said.
He also said Russian investigators have opened a criminal case into the killing and will travel to Turkey.