Summary
Speaking a day after Assad made a surprise visit to Moscow for talks with Putin -- underlining Moscow's new role as a central player in Syria's conflict -- Putin said the two men had talked about the need for a political solution.
Putin said he believed that the military operation in Syria could create the right conditions for progress in talks on the future of the country.
Putin also said that, at the root of the Syrian conflict was not just Islamist militancy but also internal tensions -- a recognition that at least some of the people who rebelled against Assad's rule had a legitimate grievance.
On Thursday, Putin repeated his view that Syria's leadership could only be decided by the Syrian people, not outside powers, via transparent elections.
...