MOSCOW. Dec 17 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed that Russia has been able to establish contacts with some members of the so-called irreconcilable Syrian opposition.
"This was [French President] Francois Hollande's idea to try to consolidate the efforts of the Syrian army and at least part of the armed opposition in combating ISIL [a terrorist organization banned in Russia]. We have managed to do this, at least partly. We have found contacts with people who are an opposition, and who are an irreconcilable and armed opposition in Syria, too, and who want to fight ISIL and who are practically doing this," Putin said at an annual press conference in Moscow on Thursday.
"We are supporting their efforts in fighting ISIL. We are supporting them by Russian air force's attacks, the same way we are supporting the Syrian army," he said.