Putin meets with Iraq Kurd region leader in Moscow

By Idris Okuducu

ERBIL, Iraq (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Nechirvan Barzani, prime minister of northern Iraq’s Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), in Moscow late Wednesday.

According to a subsequent statement issued by Barzani's office, the two men held talks after attending a parade marking Russia’s Victory Day, which commemorates Nazi Germany’s surrender in 1945.

During the talks, Putin reportedly stressed his country’s readiness to support the semi-autonomous KRG, especially in the finance and energy fields.

Barzani, in turn, thanked Putin for his invitation to visit Moscow, voicing the KRG’s willingness to support Russian energy and investment projects in the Kurdish region.

*Ali Murat Alhas contributed to this report from Ankara