Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin. Photo: Freedom Matrix.
Moscow, 19 December 2024 – As part of a large press conference at Gostiny Dvor in Moscow, Vladimir Putin summed up the results of the year, answering questions from Russian citizens. Among the more than 2 million questions submitted by 19 December, topics related to the recent fall of the Syrian government and possible Russian losses in Syria, including military bases, attracted considerable attention. However, in answering them, Putin said that Russia had achieved its goals in the Arab country, according to the Time Ukraine Israel portal, according to Channel 9 Israel.
Russia has achieved its goals in Syria
“Some people are trying to present the events in Syria as our defeat, but this is not the case. We came here 10 years ago to prevent the creation of a terrorist enclave, as we saw, say, in Afghanistan. And we have achieved this goal,” Putin said, emphasising that even those groups that had previously fought against Bashar al-Assad’s government had undergone internal changes. He pointed out that many European countries and the United States already want to establish relations with them, which Putin believes is evidence of changes in these groups.
Insurgents and the retreat of government forces
The Russian President also commented on the situation during the rebel offensive, which led to the weakening of the Assad regime. According to him, the government forces did not actively defend themselves, which led to their defeat and the surrender of strategically important positions in Syria. “When the opposition approached Aleppo, local forces defended the city, while government troops and pro-Iranian units retreated without a fight, blowing up their positions and leaving the territory,” Putin said.
The fate of Russian military bases in Syria
Regarding the fate of Russian military bases, Putin said that this issue has not yet been resolved. According to him, most countries in the Middle East have expressed interest in maintaining Russia’s presence in Syrian territories. “We need to decide how our relations with the political forces that will control the situation in Syria will develop. We have to act in a way that our interests coincide,” he added.
Putin and the dictator’s rhetoric
Putin, traditionally minimising the scale of Russia’s defeat in Syria, again called the rebels the “armed opposition”, although among them is the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which is recognised in Russia. In his rhetoric, Putin could not avoid the well-worn style of a dictator when he questioned the logic of international actors trying to establish relations with these same “terrorists”. He also promised to provide humanitarian aid to the Syrian people, hoping to improve the situation in the country, although the statements from Moscow are more indicative of an unwavering political strategy to strengthen his own regime and manipulate the international situation.
Russia and strategic interests
Putin has repeatedly proved that his rhetoric is not only a tool for political manipulation, but also a way of keeping power in the hands of a dictator who does not allow even the slightest hint of defeat. Statements at the press conference confirm that Russia, despite its serious losses in Syria, is seeking to maintain its dominance in the region, justifying it by “fighting terrorism”.
