Shoigu, Turkish defense minister discuss Ukraine, Mideast- Russian Defense Ministry

MOSCOW. March 11 (Interfax) - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke by telephone with his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar at the latter's request, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.

"During the talks, [the ministers] discussed the current situation in Ukraine and the Middle East. The heads of the defense departments paid particular attention to the issues relating to the evacuation of Turkish citizens from Ukrainian cities through humanitarian corridors," the statement said.