![A file drone photo shows ruins of buildings in Maarat al-Numan district of Idlib, Syria. on 23 December 2019 [İzzeddin İdilbi - Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20200129_2_40563130_51621970.jpg?fit=1111%2C800&ssl=1)
Turkey has rejected a recent Russian proposal to the Turkish delegation in Moscow regarding the de-escalation zone in northern Syria, local media reported yesterday.
Pro-regime Daily Sabah said that the Russian offer had included a “60 per cent reduction in the de-escalation space,” describing the proposal as “shameful.”
“The second talks between Russia and Turkey have been suspended after Ankara’s rejection to the proposal,” the newspaper added. It noted that Russia had proposed “reducing the de-escalation zone and withdrawing the 12 Turkish observation points from the strategic M5 highway.”
Read: The tug of war between Turkey and Russia in Syria continues
In September 2018, Turkey and Russia reached an agreement to establish a de-escalation zone in Idlib to allow civilians to live in without the threat of warfare.
However, since then, more than 1,800 civilians have been killed in attacks by the Syrian army and Russian forces in the area.