Syrian President Bashar Assad visited Moscow on Tuesday evening for talks regarding the Russian aerial operation to support the Syrian army offensive.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar Assad met in Moscow on Tuesday evening to discuss questions regarding the Russian air force and Syrian army operation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

Russia launched its aerial operation against terrorist group targets in Syria on September 30. Since then, the Syrian military launched a series of offensives against the groups across the country. At the talks, Assad said that any military action also presumes further political measures to resolve the Syrian crisis.

"We are ready to do what we can, not only in the military action to fight terrorism in Syria, but also in the political process," Putin said.

Assad thanked the Russian leadership for its aid to Syria, saying that it stands for Syria's unity and independence.

"The terrorism which now spread in the region would have taken much greater areas and spread to an even greater territory if it was not for your actions and your decisions," Assad said.

The talks were held in both a limited and an expanded format, also touching on topics including bilateral relations and prospective plans for economic reconstruction.

"Naturally, the questions [were about] the fight against terrorist extremist groups, questions regarding the continuation of supporting offensive actions of the Syrian armed forces," Peskov said.

According to Putin’s spokesman, members of Russia’s upper leadership took part in the expanded format of the talks and "the talks were quite long and the topic of negotiations was completely clear."

By Sputnik News