"I Plan to Do That": Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that he has yet to meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. "I have not yet met with President Assad, but I plan to do that," he said.

Commenting on the situation in Syria, Putin referred to those who overthrew Assad as the "armed opposition." He noted that Assad supporters, particularly the "Iranian-affiliated units," have withdrawn from Aleppo without a fight. "Such incidents have also occurred in other regions of Syria," he added.

According to Putin, Iran has withdrawn 4,000 soldiers, with some leaving for Lebanon and others for Iraq. "Today, the situation is complex. We continue to maintain relations with all groups," he said. He also promised to provide humanitarian assistance to Syria and stated that there are opportunities to improve the situation in the country.