Moscow, Feb 28 (IANS): Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed on Friday to examine the possibility of a meeting in the near future to discuss the situation in Syria's Idlib, the Kremlin said in a statement.

It said the two leaders had a phone conversation at the initiative of the Turkish side, exchanging views on the situation in Syria, where dozens of Turkish soldiers have been killed in recent airstrikes, Xinhua reported.

They also expressed serious concern over the escalation of tension in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib, the statement said.

Both sides emphasised the need for additional measures to normalise the situation in northwestern Syria.

They also agreed to step up relevant interagency consultations, and work out the possibility of holding a top-level meeting in the near future, it added.

The two sides also emphasised the importance of improving coordination through the ministries of defence of the two countries.