Moscow: No solution to the Kurdish issue without restoring the Syrian government's control over the entire territory of the country

Speaking at a UN Security Council session on Thursday, Nebenzia said the reason for the escalation in northeastern Syria was "the grave experiment of geopolitical engineering by inflaming hostility between Kurds and Arabs."

"The Russian-Turkish memorandum, which is pivotal to stabilizing Syria, clearly affirms respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and the rejection of all separatist orientations on its territory," Nebenzia added.

He stressed that the settlement of the Kurdish issue is impossible without restoring the Syrian government's control over the entire national territory and borders.

He said that "Syria must be liberated from the illegal foreign military presence." 

The memorandum of understanding agreed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi on October 22 stipulates the preservation of the status quo in the area between Tel Abyad and Ras al-Ain in northern Syria and the entry of Russian military police and Syrian border guards to the adjacent areas, in addition to Joint Russian-Turkish patrols.