Baladi News
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu travelled to Syria on Tuesday where he handed a message from President Vladimir Putin to Bashar al-Assad, the defence ministry said.
The Russian ministry said Shoigu and Assad had discussed the fight against global terrorism in Syria and various aspects of security in the Middle East.
Russia helped turn the tide of the conflict in Assad's favor when it launched a campaign of air strikes on his opponents and stepped up its military presence on the ground in Syria in 2015.
"With Russia's support, a significant success in the fight against terrorism has been achieved," Shoigu said in Damascus, according to a statement published by the Russian Defense Ministry.
"We were able to save the Syrian state and create conditions for the return of peaceful life," the minister added.
Shoigu accused "Western countries" of "hampering positive changes in Syria" and creating "new obstacles for ending the crisis."
During the meeting, Assad said coordination between Moscow and Damascus was a key factor behind victories over the extremist group Islamic State (IS) and Al-Qaeda-linked militants, Syria’s official news agency SANA reported.
With the help of its Russian and Iranian backers, Assad's forces now controls nearly two-thirds of the country.
Source: Reuters + Radio Free Europe.