German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas was greeted by his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara on Saturday, as he began his trip to Turkey to discuss bilateral relations and Syria.

The two diplomats were seen shaking hands and standing in front of German and Turkish flags ahead of their official meeting.

Maas and Cavusoglu are expected to discuss the ongoing Syrian crisis, after the German minister criticised Turkey's military operation into the north of the country but stressed the importance of keeping a dialogue with Ankara.

Maas, who recently expressed concern over the safety of Syrian civilians in the area, will demand

his counterpart to comply with international law and protect refugees as well as to ensure a durable ceasefire.