Putin Reacts To Fall Of Assad

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday that the fall of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad did not represent a “defeat” for Russia, asserting that Moscow had accomplished its objectives in the country.

“You want to present what is happening in Syria as a defeat for Russia,” Putin said at his annual end-of-year press conference.

“I assure you it is not,” he said, responding to a question from an American journalist.

“We came to Syria 10 years ago so that a terrorist enclave would not be created there like in Afghanistan. On the whole, we have achieved our goal,” Putin said.

The Kremlin leader said he had yet to meet with Assad in Moscow, but planned to do so soon.

“I haven’t yet seen president Assad since his arrival in Moscow but I plan to, I will definitely speak with him,” he said.

“We maintain contacts with all those who control the situation there, with all the countries of the region. An overwhelming majority of them say they are interested in our military bases staying there,” Putin said.