Putin orders Russian troops to withdraw from Syria.

President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian Defense Minister to begin withdrawing troops from Syria starting 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 objectives set for the Ministry of Defense and the Russian armed forces in general have been 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 starting tomorrow," Sputnik quoted Putin as saying yesterday during 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 have been able to achieve a major breakthrough in the fight against terrorism, and gain the initiative in most aspects," the Russian president said.

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

However, Moscow will maintain a military presence in Syria, and no timeframe for a complete withdrawal has been announced. Putin also indicated 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 operate normally. They need to be protected from land, sea, and air," the Russian president said.

"This is our military group that has been present in Syria for many years, and now it will have to assume a very important function in monitoring the ceasefire and facilitating the peace process."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Putin had called the Syrian president to inform him of the news.BasharAssad acknowledged Moscow's decision, but Peskov said the two leaders did not discuss Assad's future – the biggest obstacle to reaching a peace agreement in Syria.

According to Reuters, there are still many questions about the actual impact of Putin's announcement. It is unclear whether Russia will stop its airstrikes in Syria. Russia still has the capability to conduct attacks from its base in Latakia.

Moscow began its airstrike campaign in Syria on September 30 last year, at the official request of President Assad. Russia's decision to withdraw troops.The announcement came on the day UN-mediated talks between warring factions in Syria resumed in Geneva.

According to VNE