Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit Turkey on Monday to discuss various issues including the Syrian conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit Turkey on Monday to discuss various issues including the Syrian conflict, amid disagreements between Moscow and Ankara over the 20-month Syrian conflict.

Putin is to meet with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his visit.
"The negotiations are to touch upon a series of urgent international and regional issues including reconciliation in the Middle East, the situation in the Gaza Strip, the crisis in Syria, as well as cooperation," Putin's foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov said in a statement.

Tensions between Turkey and Syria climaxed on October 10, when Turkish F-16 fighter jets intercepted a Syrian Airbus A320 en route from Russia to Syria over Turkish airspace and escorted it to Ankara’s Esenboga Airport. The plane was reportedly carrying 35 passengers on board, including 17 Russian nationals.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the decision was made based on ‘information’ that the aircraft might be carrying “certain equipment in breach of civil aviation rules.” Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan later assured the grounded plane contained “equipment and munitions sent for the Syrian Defense Ministry from a Russian institution.” The Turkish authorities allowed the plane and its passengers to leave Ankara nine hours after landing, but seized its cargo.

Russia also has warned Turkey against the deployment of NATO surface-to-air Patriot missiles near the Syrian border, saying Ankara should instead use its sway to restore calm in the conflict-stricken Arab country.