Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (2nd R) and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin (3rd R) attend a meeting in the Russian-run Hmeimim Air Base in the coastal city of Latakia, Syria, on Dec. 11, 2017. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Syria on Monday, the presidential media office reported. During Putin's visit, he ordered his defense minister to prepare for withdrawing the Russian forces, according to the report. (Xinhua/Syrian Presidency)