Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad in Sochi, Russia, Nov. 20, 2017. (Kremlin Photo)
MOSCOW, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin told his visiting Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, that military operations against terrorists in Syria are coming to an end, with the focus shifting to a political process, the Kremlin said Tuesday.
"I hope that in the very near future we will put an end to the fight against terrorism in Syria, although it is clear that hotbeds (of terrorism) will continue to emerge," Putin told Assad in a surprising meeting in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi on Monday, according to a Kremlin transcript of the meeting.
"I think that now the most important thing, of course, is to turn to a political process," Putin added.
Russia started to participate in the anti-terrorist operations in Syria in September 2015. It has now withdrawn the majority of its troops from the war-torn country since December 2016, leaving air forces to back Syrian government troops.
At Monday's meeting, Assad praised Russian military operations, saying that "great successes were achieved, both directly on the battlefield and in the political sphere."
Russia's military chief confirmed Tuesday that the active phase of the military operations in Syria is ending, when he met his Iranian and Turkish counterparts in Sochi.
"Although there are still a number of unsolved problems, this phase is coming to its logical conclusion," said Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.
The fight against the Islamic State terrorist group in Syria will possibly be over by the end of the year and Russia may be able to withdraw its air forces, said Frants Klintsevich, first deputy chairman of the Russian Federation Council's Defense and Security Committee.
The military operations have created conditions to promote a political process, Assad told Putin.
The two leaders met to coordinate positions ahead of a summit of Russian, Iranian and Turkish presidents in Sochi on Wednesday to discuss Syrian issues, including preparations for a Syrian National Dialogue Congress.
The congress, proposed by Moscow in late October at Astana talks in Kazakhstan for Syrian settlement, is expected to bring together opposition and pro-government forces, as well as representatives of all Syrian ethnic and religious groups to work for the peace process in the country.
The date and participants of the congress have not been confirmed yet, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Sunday after meeting with his Iranian and Turkish counterparts in southwestern Turkish city of Antalya.
Assad said his country counts on Russia's support to ensure that external parties do not interfere in the political process.
He added that Syria welcomes all those interested in a political settlement and is ready to conduct a dialogue with them.
Putin said he will hold a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday to discuss Syrian issues.
