Russian, Finnish Leaders Back Consolidation of Efforts in Anti-ISIL Fight

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto discussed the situation in Syria by telephone and expressed their support for the consolidation of efforts against the Islamic State, the Kremlin’s press service said Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Russian leader informed his Finnish counterpart on the Russian military operations in Syria.

“While sharing opinions on the situation in Syria, the [leaders] expressed their support for consolidating the efforts of all interested states with the goal of collective opposition to the terrorist threat from the so-called Islamic State and other terrorist groups. The Russian president informed [Finnish President Sauli Niinisto] in detail on the ongoing operations by the Russian Armed Forces in destroying terrorist organizations in the territory of Syria,” the Kremlin said in a statement.