Russia's Putin says not striving for leadership over Syria

MOSCOW - Reuters

AP photo

Russia is not striving for leadership over Syria, President Vladimir Putin said on Oct. 13 at an investment conference, adding that existing cooperation with Western countries over the Syrian conflict was not enough.

Russia, the United States and Europe should encourage political dialogue between the sides of the Syrian conflict, Putin added. 

Putin also said that Turkey was one of Russia's most important partners, and that Russia needed to understand how to build relations with Turkey to fight terrorism.