“Moscow and Damascus may not have completely identical views, but the decision of the President Vladimir Putin on the withdrawal of the Russian military group is not associated with the Kremlin’s discontent with the position of the Syrian government,” the Russian President’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, told journalists.

Peskov said that the decision on troops’ withdrawal could not be a result of the Kremlin’s dissatisfaction with “the tough position of Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian talks“.

“Russia has consistently advocated a peaceful solution of the Syrian problem,” Peskov said. However, he didn’t specify whether Russia was going to completely stop air strikes on the positions of militants or it would continue them, recommending journalists to refer with this question to the Defense Ministry. At the same time, he noted that “now the number of sorties has actually reduced by 2/3 and, of course, the presence of such a force is not necessary”. Peskov didn’t explain the possibility of S-400 disposal, as he had no specific information about it.

In response to the question of the “Vedomosti” news agency, whether the withdrawal of Russian troops can weaken the positions of Assad and help those who are waiting for his immediate resignation, Peskov quoted the Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. According to the Minister, “the Russian airforces have significantly expanded the territory liberated from terrorists, provided sufficient support for the Syrian patriotic forces in the fight against terrorists and completely changed the situation in the region by having fulfilled their mission and provided neccesary conditions for peace talks.