Putin: Supporting the Syrian Government is the Only Way to End the War

Russian President Vladimir Putin, a key supporter of Bashar al-Assad, states that the only way to end the Syrian civil war is to support the current central government. In an interview with CBS's '60 Minutes', Putin claims that dismantling the Syrian central government would lead to a situation similar to that of Libya. Russia has recently increased its military presence in Syria, sending advanced equipment to an airbase in the west of the country. Moscow has been trying to form an international coalition against extremists that would include Bashar al-Assad as part of renewed peace negotiations. Satellite images show an increase in Russian military presence in Latakia. This idea has faced opposition from countries like Saudi Arabia, which opposes Assad. Charlie Rose, the host of '60 Minutes', asked Putin about the increased military presence, suggesting it seems aimed at 'saving' Assad, to which Putin responded, 'Well! You are right.' Putin expresses his deep belief that any attempt to overthrow the Syrian central government would create a situation similar to what is currently seen in other countries in the region, such as Libya, where all state organizations have collapsed. He refers to the chaos and armed conflicts among various groups in Libya following the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi. The UN Security Council's approval of a 'no-fly zone' over Libya at the end of 2011 ultimately led to the intervention of international forces in the internal battles of that country and the overthrow of Gaddafi. At that time, Russia did not veto the resolution but abstained from voting. Next week, Putin will meet with U.S. President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The U.S. states that Assad should not have a role in Syria's future government, although the Secretary of State emphasized that his departure does not necessarily need to happen amid the ongoing civil war. The White House stated that the upcoming meeting between Obama and Putin was requested by the Russian president. The U.S. statement noted that despite the differences between the two countries, it is necessary to discuss Russia's recent military presence in Syria.