MOSCOW. Oct 24 (Interfax) - The ultimate objective of the settlement process in Syria is the full withdrawal of any foreign armed forces from this country, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said, adding that the presence of U.S. troops in Syria is currently illegal.
"As regards the presence of American soldiers in Syria, our position is well known: actually, only Russian units are deployed in the territory of Syria on a legal basis and at the request of the Syrian leadership. And, naturally, the ultimate goal is the complete withdrawal of any foreign armed forces, foreign servicemen from the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic," Peskov told reporters on Thursday upon being asked to comment on U.S. President Donald Trump's statement that he would keep a small U.S. military contingent in Syria to protect oil fields.