EU, Russia foreign affairs chief hold phone conversation over downing of Russian jet

The European Union (EU) foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini here on Wednesday held a phone conversation with the Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov about the downing of a Russian jet plane.

Mogherini conveyed to Lavrov her condolences for the soldier killed on Tuesday, and also underlined the importance to join forces and to coordinate the efforts in the fight against Daesh (the Islamic State).

Mogherini and Lavrov agreed on the need to safeguard the diplomatic track for the resolution of the Syrian crisis opened in Vienna, and to proceed with the agreed timeline decided at the last meeting of the International Syria Support Group, that "would constitute the most effective basis for effectively defeating Daesh on the ground".

They agreed to meet next week in Belgrade, on the margins of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) ministerial council meeting.

The Turkish air force said its warplanes shot down a Russian SU-24 frontline bomber near the Syrian-Turkish border on Tuesday morning, claiming the Russian aircraft had violated Turkish airspace.

Russia refuted Turkey's statement, saying the Russian plane was in Syrian airspace when it was shot down.