Syria's Assad travels to Russia, meets with Putin

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's Vladimir Putin has met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in the Black Sea resort of Sochi ahead of a summit between Russia, Turkey and Iran and a new round of Syria peace talks in Geneva.

The Kremlin said in a statement released early on Tuesday that the two leaders held bilateral talks on Monday then met with Russian military chiefs.

Assad has only ventured outside his war-ravaged nation 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 some 400,000 and resulted in millions of refugees.

The first was in October 2015, shortly after Russia launched its military campaign in Syria to shore up Assad's forces. The Russian intervention has turned the war in favor of Assad.

Both presidents in their comments focused on various peace initiatives in Syria, and Putin said Russia is getting ready to scale down its operation in Syria.

"Regarding our joint operation to fight terrorists in Syria, this military operation is indeed coming to an end," he told Assad in televised remarks. "I'm pleased to see your willingness to work with everyone who wants peace and settlement."

Footage and photographs released by the Kremlin press office showed Putin giving Assad a warm embrace upon his arrival at Putin's residence in Sochi.

The meeting came two days after Syrian troops and their allies captured the eastern town of Boukamal, the last major inhabited area held by the Islamic State group in Syria. Syrian troops and their Iran-backed allies marched into the town under the cover of Russian airstrikes.

The meeting in Sochi comes ahead of a summit scheduled on Wednesday in Russia between the presidents of Iran, Russia and Turkey.

Iran and Russia have been Assad's main backers while Turkey supports the opposition.

Russian television showed footage of Putin and Assad entering a meeting with the top brass of Russia's defense ministry and the General Staff.

"I asked the Syrian president to stop by," Putin told the Russian generals. He then referred to Assad and said: "I would like to introduce you to people who played a key role in saving Syria."