Vladimir Putin has explained that the purpose of Russia's military intervention in Syria is to create conditions for a political solution to the prolonged conflict.

Putin said while Russia does not plan to have troops on the ground, its airstrikes target ISIS and other terrorist groups seeking to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Like Us on Facebook

"Our task is to stabilize the legitimate government and to create conditions for a political compromise... by military means, of course," he said. "The units of international terrorists and the ilk have no desire to negotiate with the Syrian government, who is almost sieged in its own capital."

Putin made the comments on Saturday, prior to a meeting with Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's defense minister.

The Saudi Arabian government, which has supported anti- Assad forces in the past, is concerned with Russia's airstrikes and a possible coalition between Moscow and Tehran.

"We expressed our concerns that these operations could be regarded as an alliance between Iran and Russia. But out Russian friends explained to us that the main aim is the fight with Isil and terrorism,"

Saudi's foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir said after the meeting.

Many critics - including the United States - have said Russia's airstrikes, which began last month, targets moderate anti-Assad groups instead of ISIS.

Putin reiterated that the air campaign would continue until the Syrian government has gained its lost territories and until a political compromise is reached in the bloody conflict.

He added that besides seeking peace in the region, Russia had no hidden motives for getting involved in the Middle Eastern conflict.

"It is not about the foreign policy. Russia foreign policy is peace-loving without any exaggeration," Putin said. "If you look at the world map, and see what Russia is, it becomes obvious that we do not need any foreign territories or foreign natural resources. Russia is a self-sufficient country. We do not need someone to fight and conflict with."

Although Putin criticized America's botched $500 million program to train moderate Syrian rebels, he said Moscow is willing to work with Washington by sharing information in the fight against international terrorism. However, the U.S. has refused the offer.

On Sunday, during a CBS "60 Minutes" interview, U.S. President Barack Obama said Russia was going out of its way to support Assad because Syria was Moscow's only Middle Eastern ally.

"Syria was Russia's only ally in the region, and today rather than being able to count on their support and maintain the base they have in Syria, which they've had for a long time, Mr. Putin now is devoting his own troops, his own military, just to barely hold together by a thread his sole ally," Obama said.

According to the U.S. President, Russia's strategy in Syria would not work to create the conditions for a political solution to the conflict.

"We've got a 60-country coalition that isn't suddenly lining up around Russia's strategy. To the contrary, they are arguing that, in fact, that strategy will not work," he added.

Obama also said that the Syrian conflict has been difficult for the world and America's plan to train and arm anti-Assad sects was unsuccessful.

TagsRussia-Syria, Russia Airstrikes Syria, Bashar al-Assad, Syria Airstrikes ISIS, Russia Airstrikes ISIS