Erdogan speaks with Putin by phone

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a written statement released Wednesday, the Turkish Prime Ministry has said that Erdogan and Putin discussed bilateral relations and regional issues, primarily the issue of Syria.

"President Putin expressed his deep sadness over the downing of a Turkish military jet by Syria. Our Prime Minister Erdogan and Putin agreed to keep in touch with the hope that the jet incident gets fully clarified," the statement said.