Putin holds a summit on Syria in Sochi with his Turkish and Iranian counterparts

Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding a meeting in Sochi with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Hassan Rouhani of Iran,  to share their views on a political accommodation for ending the Syrian war. The three countries previously agreed to be guarantors of the Syrian peace process. Welcoming his guests, Putin said the meeting comes at a crucial juncture of the Syrian armed conflict, when an opportunity has arisen for ending it. “The militants in Syria have sustained a decisive blow, and now there is a realistic chance to end the multiyear civil war,” he said. This would require giving the Syrians a period of peace, during which they would be able to settle their differences, Putin added. This will require compromise by all parties in Syria, both the government and the rebels, he stressed.