Russian PM says military won’t stay in Syria for ever

Jubeir told a press conference in Riyadh that previous efforts to prop up Assad, including by Iran, had “failed”.

McCain criticized the Obama administration for failure of its Syria policy, and said Russian Federation has managed to establish itself as the key player in Syria in a year, after its military intervention.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said during the Munich Security Conference last February 13 that the world is in a “new Cold War”. Being able to show that American ally Japan wants closer ties with Russian Federation would help the Kremlin push for a resolution that keeps Assad in power, a Russo-Japanese diplomatic source said.

He urged the Syrian regime to “immediately allow the entry of humanitarian assistance to all parts of Syria, end military attacks on innocent civilians…”

Saudi Arabia confirmed it had sent aircraft to Turkey’s Incirlik air base to join the fight against Daesh, but said any move to deploy Saudi special forces into Syria must await a decision by the US-led coalition combating the militants.

He went on to explain that terrorists would take advantage of the situation and the whole world would have to face up to terror if the situation in Syria and other hot spots were not normalized.

The war in Syria has killed at least 250,000 people and created a breeding ground for radical Islamists. “Bashar al-Assad will leave – have no doubt about it. He will either leave by a political process or he will be removed by force”. “I believe we are on the same footing in this regard even with the Americans”, Gatilov said.

In Syria, the Russian military has stepped up its presence by land, air and sea, and Russian officials have contended their weaponry is targeting ISIS extremists and their infrastructure. There were episodes where state power was challenged by non-state actors such as the mujahideen, but they were supported and trained by the United States to weaken the Soviet Union in Afghanistan.

However, he added, “But if that doesn’t work, it will be because of the obstinance of the Syrian regime and that of its allies”.

Turkey, Saudi Arabia and other regional players that have backed Assad’s foes are loath to see the Syrian ruler strengthen his grip on power.

“The Turkish army struck positions of Kurdish fighters inside Syria for a second day Sunday in response to incoming fire, state media said, as an explosive standoff between Ankara and Syrian Kurds intensified”. Turkish Defence Minister Ismet Yilmaz, however, denied the report and said Ankara was not considering sending troops into its neighbour, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. The pause is due to begin in a week’s time.

Obama and Putin discussed Ukraine in their phone call Saturday, both the White House and the Kremlin said.

“The main objective of Russian Federation is to regain its sphere of influence over the post-Soviet states”, he said in a 2014 interview. He said that more needed to be spent on defense and that Europe, while still needing the United States, should not rely on America for its safety.