The delegation of the Council of the Russian Federation diverged in the views with the king of Saudi Arabia

The delegation of the Council of the Federation of the Russian Federation met in Riyad with the king of Saudi Arabia Salman Ben Abdel Aziz al-Saud for negotiations about the war in Syria.

After the meeting, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Ilyas Umakhanov told Interfax on April 16 that the issue of the future of the Syrian president Bashar al -Assad was discussed. He said that the Russian delegation, headed by the Chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko, dispersed into the views with the king of Saudi Arabia regarding the fact that Assad should remain in power.

But Umakhanov said that both parties confirmed their readiness to continue the consultations, compare the positions and seek the settlement of the current situation in order to strengthen their positions. Saudi Arabia and Western powers demanded that Assad were not allowed to remain in power with a peaceful settlement in Syria.

From the very beginning of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Russia supported the Assad’s government - repeatedly imposing a veto on the UN Security Council, which requires the resignation of Assad and impose sanctions against its government approved by the West.

Russia also directly supported the forces of Assad since September 2015, expanding military forces and striking air strikes on the positions of forces to the opposition President Assad, which were approved by the Federation Council.