Putin ra lệnh rút quân Nga khỏi Syria

President Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian Defense Minister to begin withdrawing troops from Syria from today.

Russian President Putin (center) during a meeting with Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu (right) and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on March 15. Photo: Reuters

"I believe that the goals set for the Russian Defense Ministry and the Russian Armed Forces have been largely achieved. That is why I have ordered the start of the withdrawal of the main part of our military group from the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic from tomorrow," Sputnik quoted Putin as saying yesterday at a meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

"With the intervention of the Russian military, the Syrian armed forces and Syrian patriotic forces were able to achieve a major turnaround in the fight against terrorism, and gain the initiative in most aspects," the Russian president said.

Mr Putin expressed hope that the decision would encourage all parties involved in the Syrian conflict to pursue a peaceful solution."I ask the foreign minister to increase the Russian Federation's participation in promoting the peace process, towards a solution to the Syrian crisis," Putin said.

However, Moscow will still maintain a military presence in Syria, and the deadline for a complete withdrawal has not been announced. Mr. Putin also pointed out that Russian forces will continue to be stationed at the port of Tartus and the Hmeymim air base in Latakia.

"Our bases - the naval base in Tartus and the air base in Hmeymim - will continue to function normally. They need to be protected from land, sea and air," the Russian president said.

"It is our military group that has been present in Syria for many years, and now it will have to take on a very important function in monitoring the ceasefire and creating conditions for the peace process."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Putin called to inform Syrian PresidentBasharAssad about Moscow's decision, but Peskov said the two leaders did not discuss Mr Assad's future - the biggest obstacle to reaching a peace deal in Syria.

There are still questions about the practical impact of Putin’s announcement, Reuters reported. It is unclear whether Russia will halt its airstrikes in Syria. Russia still has the ability to launch strikes from its base in Latakia.

Moscow began its air campaign in Syria on September 30 last year, following an official request from President Assad. Russia's decision to withdraw its troopswas announced on the day UN-brokered talks between Syria's warring sides resumed in Geneva.

According to VNE