SOCHI. May 18 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin held substantive talks with Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad, the former's press secretary Dmitry Peskov said.
"Today talks took place in Sochi between Russian President Putin and the President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Bashar al-Assad. Assad was in Sochi on a working visit. Fairly substantive talks took place," Peskov told reporters.