It follows the near-collapse of the Syrian opposition since Moscow’s armed intervention in 2015 and the military defeat of Islamic State in all of the major towns and cities that were under its control. He insisted on Wednesday that Assad was committed to a peace process, constitutional reform and free elections. Putin urged Iran and Turkey to start a discussion with him on the reconstruction of Syria. The meeting is intended to help frame a constitution for an integrated Syria, including the terms of presidential elections in which Assad would be entitled to stand. They also claim Putin, despite his denials, is undermining the UN peace process in favour of a separate peace track with Russian-selected delegates to the national dialogue congress.

Source: The Guardian November 22, 2017 14:12 UTC