President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Secretary of State, colleagues,
We are happy to welcome you to Russia.
As you know, just recently, a couple of days ago, I had the pleasure of talking with the President of the United States by telephone. I got the impression that the President is in favour of restoring Russia-US ties and contacts and resolving issues of mutual interest.
For our part, we have said many times that we would also like to restore relations on a full scale.
On the heels of a meeting between Putin and the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the Russian resort of Sochi on Thursday, Lavrentiev added: „This statement involves all foreign troops in Syria including the Turkish, American, Iranian and Hezbollah.“
Lavrentiev stressed that Putin’s statement on this issue represents a “political message”, but added „not to view it as the beginning of a withdrawal process of foreign troops from Syria.”
Speaking at a meeting Friday in Sochi, Putin said delivery of the new Avangard hypersonic vehicle will begin next year while the new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile will enter duty in 2020.
The Avangard and the Sarmat were among an array of new nuclear weapons Putin presented in March. He noted that they can‘t be intercepted. They also included a nuclear-powered global range cruise missile and an underwater drone designed to strike coastal facilities with a heavy nuclear weapon.
Officials from the three countries issued a statement Tuesday in Sochi where they reaffirmed the need of respecting sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Syria, and asked for avoiding any action that could violate and sabotage the agreements reached in Astana.
On May 18, Vladimir Putin will meet in Sochi with Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, who will pay a working visit to Russia.