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A changed attitude from Moscow spells future trouble for Syria’s Kurds
It’s unlikely Ankara would have embarked on its Syrian invasion without some kind of understanding that Russian forces would not be engaged. KENNY COYLE explains the shift in politics
A convoy of Turkish army armoured vehicles moves towards the Syrian border

WHEN British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and his US counterpart Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met in London on Tuesday, both were at pains to insist that behind Turkey’s invasion of Syrian territory around Afrin at the weekend was “a legitimate interest in protecting its own borders and its own security.”

Tillerson told a press conference: “We recognise and fully appreciate Turkey’s legitimate right to protect its own citizens from terrorist elements that may be launching attacks against Turkish citizens and Turkish soil from Syria. 

“We’re engaged with Turkey and we are engaged also with the leadership of our coalition and are asking that both sides show restraint, please minimise the impact on civilian casualties … work together to address Turkey’s legitimate security concerns in a way that’s satisfactory to Turkey.”

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