Russia's Putin agrees with Trump that Islamic State defeated in Syria
Putin said Moscow had not noted any signs of a US withdrawal
Putin said Moscow had not noted any signs of a US withdrawal. PHOTO: REUTERS
MOSCOW:
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he largely agreed with US President Donald Trump that Islamic State had been defeated, but added that he was skeptical whether the United States would withdraw fully from Syria.
Trump said on Wednesday that the United States had defeated the radical militant group in Syria, and that this fulfilled the only goal for keeping US troops in the country.
Putin said Moscow had not noted any signs of a US withdrawal, and that the United States had many times said it was leaving Afghanistan, but still retained a presence there.
Trump orders full withdrawal of US troops from Syria
Earlier it was announced that, the United States will withdraw all of its troops from Syria, a US official said Wednesday, after President Donald Trump claimed America has “defeated ISIS” in the war-ravaged country.
The stunning move, which runs counter to long-established US policy for Syria and the region, caught lawmakers, the Pentagon and international allies off-guard.
US imposes sanctions on three Islamic State recruiters
A withdrawal could have extraordinary geopolitical ramifications, and plunges into uncertainty the fate of US-backed Kurdish fighters who have been tackling Islamic State militants, thousands of whom are thought to remain in Syria.
With additional input from AFP
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he largely agreed with US President Donald Trump that Islamic State had been defeated, but added that he was skeptical whether the United States would withdraw fully from Syria.
Trump said on Wednesday that the United States had defeated the radical militant group in Syria, and that this fulfilled the only goal for keeping US troops in the country.
Putin said Moscow had not noted any signs of a US withdrawal, and that the United States had many times said it was leaving Afghanistan, but still retained a presence there.
Trump orders full withdrawal of US troops from Syria
Earlier it was announced that, the United States will withdraw all of its troops from Syria, a US official said Wednesday, after President Donald Trump claimed America has “defeated ISIS” in the war-ravaged country.
The stunning move, which runs counter to long-established US policy for Syria and the region, caught lawmakers, the Pentagon and international allies off-guard.
US imposes sanctions on three Islamic State recruiters
A withdrawal could have extraordinary geopolitical ramifications, and plunges into uncertainty the fate of US-backed Kurdish fighters who have been tackling Islamic State militants, thousands of whom are thought to remain in Syria.
With additional input from AFP