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Islamic State: Putin calls for coalition to defeat militants Islamic State: Putin says Assad 'could work with rebels against IS'
(about 1 hour later)
President Putin has called for Kurdish forces to form a coalition with the Syrian and Iraqi governments to fight the so-called Islamic State. Vladimir Putin has suggested the Syrian government could be ready to work with rebel groups that are willing to fight against the so-called Islamic State.
Speaking at a meeting in Sochi, Mr Putin also said Russia was close to exchanging data about militant positions in Syria with the West. Mr Putin said he had asked President Bashar al-Assad how he would view such a force during his surprise visit to Moscow on Tuesday.
"He answered: 'Positively'," Mr Putin told a conference with foreign dignitaries in southern Russia.
"We are contemplating this and will try to implement it," he added.
He called for Kurdish groups to join forces with the Syrian and Iraqi governments against IS.
Speaking at the Valdai discussion forum in Sochi, Mr Putin also said Russia was close to exchanging data about militant positions in Syria with the West.
He said the terrorist threat represented an opportunity for Russia and the West to work together.He said the terrorist threat represented an opportunity for Russia and the West to work together.
The speech follows a surprise visit by Syria's president to Moscow on Tuesday. But he said Russia had no plans to expand its air strikes on the group into Iraq because the Iraqi government had not asked Russia for help.
"We need to join all our forces, the regular armies of Syria and Iraq and Kurdish groups," the Russian president said at the Valdai discussion forum. 'Red carpet welcome'
Military victory over jihadist groups would not solve all the problems in Syria, Mr Putin argued, but it would enable a political solution to get under way in which Syrians could decide their own fate.Military victory over jihadist groups would not solve all the problems in Syria, Mr Putin argued, but it would enable a political solution to get under way in which Syrians could decide their own fate.
Mr Putin chided the West for "dividing terrorists into moderates and non-moderates". And he chided the West for "dividing terrorists into moderates and non-moderates".
"You can't beat terrorism if terrorists are used as an excuse to oust undesirable regimes," he said."You can't beat terrorism if terrorists are used as an excuse to oust undesirable regimes," he said.
But the BBC's Diplomatic Editor Bridget Kendall says he appeared to be reaching out to the West. But the BBC's Diplomatic Editor Bridget Kendall says Mr Putin appeared to be reaching out to the West.
President Putin said the threat of terrorism represented an opportunity for Russia and the West to work together, following opportunities missed at the end of the Cold War and after the 9/11 attacks.President Putin said the threat of terrorism represented an opportunity for Russia and the West to work together, following opportunities missed at the end of the Cold War and after the 9/11 attacks.
"The most important thing is to treat each other as allies and be open and frank with each other," he said."The most important thing is to treat each other as allies and be open and frank with each other," he said.
The US criticised Bashar al-Assad's visit to Russia, accusing Mr Putin of putting out a "red carpet welcome" for the Syrian president, whom it says used chemical weapons against Syrian civilians. The US criticised Bashar al-Assad's visit to Russia, accusing Mr Putin of putting out a "red carpet welcome" for the Syrian president, who it says used chemical weapons against Syrian civilians.
During his visit, Mr Assad said Russia's involvement had stopped "terrorism" becoming "more widespread and harmful" in Syria.During his visit, Mr Assad said Russia's involvement had stopped "terrorism" becoming "more widespread and harmful" in Syria.
In his speech in Sochi, Mr Putin also called for greater engagement with the Islamic world's spiritual leaders, saying their "moral authority" would help stop the spread of terrorist ideology.In his speech in Sochi, Mr Putin also called for greater engagement with the Islamic world's spiritual leaders, saying their "moral authority" would help stop the spread of terrorist ideology.