On surprise Russia trip, Assad and Putin discuss plans for post-war Syria

MOSCOW» On a surprise trip to Russia, Syria’s Bashar Assad discussed potential new peace initiatives for post-war Syria with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who declared that Russia’s twoyear military campaign in Syria is wrapping up, the Kremlin said Tuesday.

Moscow released footage of Assad warmly embracing Putin, who hosted him in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Monday, before a summit between Russia, Turkey and Iran and a new round of Syrian peace talks in Geneva later this month.

The meeting was unannounced, and the Kremlin did not make it public until Tuesday morning.

“I passed on to (Putin) and all Russian people our greetings and gratitude for all of the efforts that Russia made to save our country,” Assad told Russia’s top brass in televised remarks.

Assad has ventured outside his war-ravaged nation only twice since the conflict began — both times to Russia. This week’s visit to meet Putin is his second since the crisis began in March 2011, leading to a civil war that has killed approximately 400,000 people and has made refugees of millions of people.

The first was in October 2015, weeks after Russia launched its military campaign in Syria to shore up Assad’s forces, which turned the war in favor of Assad.

The meeting in Sochi, which lasted three hours, preceded a summit between the presidents of Iran, Russia and Turkey set for Wednesday at the same venue. Iran and Russia have been Assad’s main backers while Turkey supports the opposition.

It wasn’t immediately clear if the Kremlin put any pressure on Assad to accept a new deal brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran — or whether that deal would involve Assad staying on as president once the war is over.