Russian President Vladimir Putin
President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Daesh had seized nearly 700 hostages in part of Syria controlled by U.S.-backed forces and had executed some of them and promised to kill more.
Speaking in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Putin said the hostages included several U.S. and European nationals, adding that Daesh was expanding its control in territory on the left bank of the River Euphrates controlled by U.S. and U.S.-backed forces.
Putin did not specify what the militants' demands were.
"They have issued ultimatums, specific demands and warned that if these ultimatums are not met they will execute 10 people every day. The day before yesterday they executed 10 people," Putin told the Valdai discussion forum in Sochi.
The TASS news agency reported on Wednesday that Daesh militants had taken around 700 hostages in Syria's Deir-al Zor province after attacking a refugee camp in an area controlled by U.S.-backed forces on Oct.13.
TASS said the militants had kidnapped around 130 families and taken them to the city of Hajin.
Russia and Turkey plan to give more time for the implementation of their de-escalation deal in the Syrian province of Idlib, a "great relief" for 3 million civilians in the area, U.N. humanitarian adviser Jan Egeland told reporters on Thursday.But there were still "a million unanswered questions" about how the deal would work, and what would happen if groups designated as terrorists refused to lay down their weapons.Speaking after a regular Syria humanitarian meeting in Geneva, Egeland said Syria's ally Russia had confirmed that Damascus had scrapped a "very concerning" law allowing the expropriation of land and property from refugees.‘Syrians always warmly welcomed in Turkey’Idlib and adjacent areas are the last stronghold of the opposition who rose up against President Bashar al-Assad in 2011, and the U.N. has warned that a battle to restore Assad's control over the zone could be the worst of the seven-year-old war.Turkey and Russia's deal set up a buffer zone running 15-20 km (9-13 miles) deep into opposition territory that originally had to be free of heavy weapons and jihadists by Monday."There will be more time for diplomacy," Egeland said."I was heartened to hear both Russia and Turkey say they are optimistic, they can achieve much more through negotiations, and they are generally very positive on the implementation of this deal which is giving a relief, a pause in fighting, to Idlib."
Russia and Turkey give more time for Idlib deal in Syria: UN
Putin thanks Turkey's efforts in Syria's Idlib
Putin on Thursday thanked Turkey for its efforts in the northwestern Idlib province of Syria.
Putin said Moscow sees the work Turkey puts into the region.
"I want to thank our Turkish partners, we see that they work, they are fulfilling the obligations. The demilitarized zone is being created," he said.
Putin said: "Not all the heavy weapons have been withdrawn, not all the militants have left the territory, but Turkish partners are doing everything to fulfill their obligations."
The UN has sent 30 trucks of humanitarian aid to Syria’s northwestern Idlib province on Thursday.The convoy passed through the Cilvegozu border gate in southern Hatay’s Reyhanli district.Some 600 tons of humanitarian aid will be distributed to people in need in Idlib and its rural areas.Located near the Turkish border, Idlib province is home to more than three million Syrians, many of whom fled from other cities following attacks by regime forces.Putin thanks Turkey over Idlib, says 'Turkish partners are acting tough' to fulfill agreementsFollowing a meeting in Russia’s port city of Sochi last month between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the two countries agreed to establish the Idlib demilitarized zone.Ankara and Moscow also signed a memorandum of understanding calling for the “stabilization” of Idlib's de-escalation zone, in which acts of aggression are expressly prohibited.Russia and Turkey give more time for Idlib deal in Syria: UN
UN sends 30 trucks of humanitarian aid to Syria's Idlib
Putin recalled that the Turkish side was paying heavy burdens as a military hospital was deployed to the region -- which meant losses and injuries.
He also said that Turkish partners were "acting tough" in the fight against the terrorist groups.
The leader said the situation in Syria remains difficult, especially in the east of Euphrates, where U.S. and EU citizens were among 700 people taken hostage by Daesh.
Emphasizing that the terrorists promised to shoot 10 people every day and 10 others were shot on Wednesday, Putin said he wondered why the U.S. and the EU were staying silent on the issue.
Turkey's top refiner, Tüpraş, is in talks with U.S. officials to obtain a waiver allowing it to keep buying Iranian oil after Washington reinstates sanctions on the Islamic Republic's energy sector in November, industry sources said.The United States is preparing to impose the new sanctions on Iran's oil industry after Washington withdrew from a nuclear deal between Tehran and other global powers earlier this year, but is also considering offering waivers to some allies that rely on Iranian supplies.NATO member Turkey depends heavily on imports to meet its energy needs and neighbouring Iran has been one of its main sources of oil because of its proximity, the quality of its crude, and favourable price differentials.Turkey has already made efforts to cut its purchases ahead of the U.S. sanctions, but would prefer to keep up some level of Iranian oil imports past November, an industry source familiar with the matter said.World oil market 'adequately supplied for now': IEA"They would like to be able to continue importing 3-4 cargoes a month, like they did during the previous sanctions round. But if the U.S. would tell them to stop, they will oblige and work towards achieving that," the source said.A Tüpraş spokeswoman was not available for comment. Turkey's Energy Ministry was not immediately available for comment.Turkey imported around 97,000 barrels per day of Iranian oil in August and 133,000 bpd in September, compared with just over 240,000 bpd in April, tanker tracking and shipping data showed.And in the first two weeks of October, Turkey has purchased three 1 million barrel-cargoes of Iranian oil - a level that would equate to about 97,000 bpd if it made no other purchases this month.Turkey's interior minister meets Iranian counterpartCASE-BY-CASEAsked if Washington was negotiating with Turkey for a waiver, a State Department official said the department was prepared to work with countries that are reducing their imports on a case-by-case basis.On Monday, Brian Hook, the U.S. special representative on Iran, did not comment directly about any talks on waivers with Turkey. But he told reporters countries seeking sanctions relief must "explain their specific and unique circumstances".Hook said those conversations were private, but he added the State Department was "trying to advance our national security goals and also taking into account the needs of our allies and partners around the world."Refiners around the world are under pressure to avoid Iranian oil purchases because they want to maintain their access to the U.S. financial system - something they could lose if they flout the U.S. sanctions.Tomato squeeze: US sanctions begin to distort Iran's economyIndian refiners also cut imports of Iranian oil purchases last month in a sign they are preparing for November.Washington's plan to impose sanctions on Iranian crude could strain already soured ties between the United States and Turkey - at odds over a host of issues from diverging interests in Syria to Ankara's ambition of buying Russian defence systems.The release of an American pastor last week who had been in custody in Turkey for two years could signal a thaw in relations between the two NATO allies as Trump said he welcomed an end to the "harsh relationship" the countries had over the summer.But Turkey has been vocally opposed to the U.S. sanctions on Iran, and has said it will not cut trade ties with Tehran at the behest of other countries.During 2017, Iran was Turkey's top crude oil source, accounting for 11.5 million tonnes of its total purchases nearing 26 million tonnes, followed by Iraq and Russia. 
Turkey's Tüpraş in talks with US for Iran sanctions waiver
Not up to Russia to persuade Iran to pull out of Syria
Putin said that it was not up to Russia to persuade Iran to pull its forces out of Syria, and that the governments calling for Iran to leave should provide guarantees that they would not meddle in Syria's affairs.
Putin says Trump listens to him and wants to repair U.S.-Russia ties
Putin said that U.S. President Donald Trump listened to him and was keen to improve battered U.S.-Russia ties despite the complicated domestic political situation in the United States.
Putin made the comments when asked if he agreed that Trump only listened to himself.
Putin said he thought the U.S. president wanted to stabilise the troubled relationship between Moscow and Washington and said it was not true that Trump only listened to himself.
"Maybe he acts like that with someone else, but in that case they are to blame. I have a completely normal and professional dialogue with him and of course he listens. I see that he reacts to his interlocutor's arguments," said Putin.
The Russian leader said it was normal they disagreed about many things, something he said was normal in discussions with foreign leaders.
The investigation of a journalist who went missing after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul "complies with international law and conventions in all aspects," prosecutors said in a statement Thursday.The public will be informed about the investigation "when necessary," said the Istanbul's Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi is feared killed since he entered the Saudi Consulate on Oct. 2 and was never seen leaving.The prosecutor's office said after the Levent Police Station was told by Khashoggi's Turkish citizen fiancee Hatice Cengiz on Oct. 2, 4.40 p.m. local time (1340GMT) about the disappearance, the investigation "began immediately."Istanbul forest being searched for Khashoggi bodyThe office also said after Saudi officials granted permission on Tuesday, "procedural acts started at the Saudi Consulate, Saudi consul's residence, and vehicles."On the same day of the disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while Khashoggi was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.On Wednesday, crime scene investigation units arrived at the official residence of the Saudi consul, Mohammad al-Otaibi, around 4.40 p.m. local time (1340 GMT). Al-Otaibi had left Turkey for Riyadh on Tuesday.France sends mixed signals over Saudi ties after Khashoggi affairOfficials from a joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case early Thursday after searching the residence as well as the Saudi Consulate building in Istanbul.The Turkish team concluded its search for evidence in nine hours and left but returned to the Saudi Consulate to continue searching the premises.US-Saudi relations in light of Khashoggi caseTurkey says results 'expected soon' on Khashoggi case
Khashoggi probe 'complies with international law'
Putin says can't justify spoiling Saudi ties over Khashoggi affair
Putin said that Russia did not have enough information about the unexplained disappearance of a Saudi journalist to justify spoiling ties with Riyadh.
Turkey says Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist who was critical of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed by Saudi agents in Riyadh's diplomatic mission in Istanbul on Oct. 2 and his body cut up. Saudi Arabia denies the allegation.
Putin said Moscow did not really know what had happened in the case, that it was a pity that the journalist had gone missing, and that Russia would wait for details.
Search teams started poring through Belgrad Forest, located in Turkey’s Istanbul, on Thursday looking for the body of missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.It is believed that vehicles that left the consulate on Oct. 2, the day Khashoggi went missing, could have traveled to the forest.Khashoggi was a U.S. resident who wrote columns for the Washington Post and he was critical of the Saudi government, calling for reforms.France sends mixed signals over Saudi ties after Khashoggi affairHe has long been feared killed after he entered the Saudi Consulate building in Istanbul on Oct. 2 and was never seen leaving.On the same day, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while Khashoggi was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.Recordings reveal Khashoggi tortured then dismembered while still aliveOfficials from a joint Turkish-Saudi team completed an investigation into the case early Thursday after searching the Saudi consul general's official residence as well as the Saudi consulate building in Istanbul.The Turkish team concluded its search for evidence in nine hours and left but returned to the Saudi consulate to continue searching the premises.German opposition demands end to Saudi arms salesUS-Saudi relations in light of Khashoggi caseDutch pull out of Saudi conference over missing journalistTurkey says results 'expected soon' on Khashoggi case
Istanbul forest being searched for Khashoggi body