Sisi discuses Syrian crisis with Putin over phone call

CAIRO – 21 November 2017: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi received a phone call from his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin Tuesday night, in which both leaders discussed the Syrian crisis.

According to a presidential statement, both leaders tackled the latest developments in the Syrian crisis and efforts exerted to reach a political settlement.

During their phone call, the two leaders agreed to continue consultations and coordination on the current developments in the Middle East, and they underscored the need to work on restoring stability in the region.

Countering terrorism and the two countries’ mutual relations were highlighted during the discussion between Sisi and Putin, along with number of regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Putin received Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday in Sochi, Russia. In a statement published on the Kremlin’s website, it was reported that Putin congratulated Assad for the “inevitable defeat of the terrorists.”

“First, let me congratulate you on Syria’s results in combating terrorist groups, as well as on the fact that the Syrian people, despite a very difficult ordeal, are gradually moving towards the final and inevitable defeat of the terrorists,” Putin said to his Syrian counterpart.

However, after their meeting, Putin announced that he was going to make several phone calls with the leaders of Egypt and the United States to discuss the meeting’s results with them.