Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on Thursday that the situation in Syria is "quite complicated." During the annual end-of-the-year conference, he shared that Russia transported 4,000 Iranian fighters out of Syria.
"We expect and hope that the peace and calm will come there. We have established relations with all the groups that control the situation on the ground and [neighboring countries]," Putin stated, adding that the majority told Moscow that they "have an interest for our military bases in Syria to remain in place."
The Russian head of state revealed that he hasn't yet met with former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, but has plans to do so.
