On 17 March , Russia ’s foreign minister , Sergey Lavrov , informed his German counterpart , Frank - Walter Steinmeier that the flow of illegal oil and weapons across the Syrian - Turkish border continues . This is despite attacks on ISIS ’ infrastructure , and UN sanctions . Operations by the US and Russia have slowed ISIS ’ oil business , however Russia remains concerned about the amount of cross - border smuggling traffic . Russia said that : “ Nevertheless , it is still there . The sector of the border between two Kurdish enclaves in northern Syria is actively used . ” "We insist on compliance with U.N. Security Council resolutions demanding to stop trade with ISIS and other terrorists just as resolutions demanding an end to the flow of foreign terrorists, gunmen via Turkish territory to Syria," Lavrov said, referring to Turkey's alleged failure to protect and patrol its borders effectively. Russia has argued that the smuggling violates UN resolutions , but Turkey is in a difficult position , finding it hard to fully control its mile - long border .
On 17 March , Russia ’s foreign minister , Sergey Lavrov , informed his German counterpart , Frank - Walter Steinmeier that the flow of illegal oil and weapons across the Syrian - Turkish border continues . This is despite attacks on ISIS ’ infrastructure , and UN sanctions . Operations by the US and Russia have slowed ISIS ’ oil business , however Russia remains concerned about the amount of cross - border smuggling traffic . Russia said that : “ Nevertheless , it is still there . The sector of the border between two Kurdish enclaves in northern Syria is actively used . ” Russia has argued that the smuggling violates UN resolutions , but Turkey is in a difficult position , finding it hard to fully control its mile - long border .