Double faced Putin, Saudi’s King Salman Hold Talks on Syria Crisis

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud have discussed ways to find a solution to the ongoing foreign-sponsored militancy in Syria.
During a telephone conversation on Saturday, the two heads of state “exchanged views on regional security matters, first and foremost, in the context of finding ways to settle the conflict in Syria,” the Kremlin said in a statement.

They also held negotiations on “building more effective international cooperation” in the fight against the Takfiri ISIS militant group and other terrorist groups operating inside Syria.

The report comes as Moscow has expressed optimism over the growing chances for a concerted effort to end the violence in Syria and fight ISIS extremists in the Middle East.

“We are optimistic over the possibilities for joining efforts in the fight against … (ISIS) and on the Syrian settlement,” a source in the Russian Foreign Ministry said on September 23.

The remarks came a day after UN special envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura said he had met with facilitators appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to head working groups tasked with resolving the five-year conflict in Syria.

The conflict in Syria, which started in March 2011, has reportedly claimed more than 240,000 lives up until now.

The violence has also forced over four million Syrians to take refuge in neighboring countries, including Jordan and Lebanon. More than 7.2 million others have been displaced within Syria, according to the United Nations.

Saudi Arabia, along with its Western and regional allies, is known as a staunch supporter of the Takfiri militants operating against the Syrian government; Press TV reported.