ERBIL, Kurdistan Region--In his New Years speech Russian President Vladimir Putin saluted Russian soldiers fighting terrorism abroad while calling upon his American counterpart to cast aside their differences and cooperate more closely on issues that concern both nations.
In his New Years video message Putin praised Russian servicemen who are "fighting international terrorism and standing for the national interests of Russia on distant frontiers."
The Russian president used the occasion to push for cooperation between Moscow and Washington in fighting terrorism, saying, "relations between Russia and the United States are crucial to ensuring security," adding that both countries could "successfully take on new challenges and threats," the world over if they were to engage in "constructive dialogue."
In Syria both countries are conducting separate air campaigns. A US-led multinational effort is bombing ISIS in the northeast and a more general Russian one is bombing various armed groups, including ISIS and other Islamist groups, elsewhere in support of forces under President Bashar al-Assad's command.
As part of a United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254, which was unanimously approved December 18, the world powers have vowed to bring about a ceasefire in Syria between the regime and recognized opposition groups in a bid to focus on combating ISIS and other Islamist terrorist groups like Jabhat al-Nusra.
Russia and the US-led coalition haven't coordinated missions in Syria primarily because the US accuses Russia of not arraying its firepower against ISIS but instead simply propping-up the Assad regime by bombing "moderate" armed groups.
Putin also paid homage to the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945 declaring that, "the experience of our fathers and grandfathers, their unity in that difficult time and their strength of spirit is a great example for us."
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