Baladi - Coverage
Russian President Vladimir Putin met Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad on Thursday and said their "military success" in Syria allowed for a large-scale "political process" leading to the withdrawal of foreign forces and the country's reconstruction.
A day after UN special envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura warned that a government assault on the rebel-held area of Idlib could affect 2.3 million people, Putin met Assad in the southern Russian city of Sochi.
"After the success of the Syrian government army in the fight against the terrorists," the right conditions are in place for "the start of a political process on a major scale," Putin said in a statement released by the Kremlin after the meeting.
Putin also congratulated Assad on the "successes of the Syrian government's army in the fight against terrorist groups".
"The next task, of course, is the economic recovery and humanitarian aid for those people in a difficult situation," Putin added.
It's worth noting that Russia has been involved in Syria's civil war since September 2015. Its military support not only ensured the survival of Assad's government but also changed the course of the war.
Source: The Middle East Eye