Turkey President Erdogan hosts Putin in Istanbul

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in Istanbul on Wednesday for a series of talks, including discussions around tensions in the Middle East.

The meeting is expected to cover the ongoing situation between Iran and the US following the killing of top Iranian general Qassam Soleimani, as well as Syria and Libya, where Putin and Erdogan support opposing sides in the countries' respective conflicts.

The two Presidents are also set to inaugurate a natural gas pipeline connecting Russia and Turkey.

The 930-kilometer (578-mile) pipeline under the Black Sea will open a new export path for Russian gas into Turkey and Europe.

Putin's visit to Turkey follows a short visit to Syria on 7 January, where he met President Bashar Assad.