Vladimir Putin in phone calls with Syrian, Iranian, Saudi Arabian and Israeli leaders as Syria ceasefire plans continue

The Russian President agreed to help broker a truce drawn up with the US but has been heavily criticised for his country's own intervention in the conflict to support Assad

Vladimir Putin spoke to a series of world leaders on both sides of the Syrian conflict as efforts towards a ceasefire continue (AFP/Getty Images)

Vladimir Putin spoke to Bashar al-Assad, the King of Saudi Arabia, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Benjamin Netanyahu in quick succession today as efforts to implement a planned ceasefire in Syria continue.

The Russian President is playing a key role in brokering the “cessation of hostilities” due to start on Saturday after drawing up plans with the US.

The temporary truce has been agreed by the Syrian regime and opposition but there are concerns the exclusion of Isis and Jabhat al-Nusra, and permission to continue attacks on “terrorists” will make the agreement largely ineffectual.

A spokesperson for Assad said he and Putin had stressed the need to continue fighting the so-called Islamic State, al-Qaeda linked rebels and “other terrorist organisations” in their phone call on Wednesday.

The Syrian President classed all armed groups as terrorists in an interview last week, saying: “I don’t think that the term ‘opposition’ can be used to describe somebody carrying a weapon…every terrorist is an enemy.”

But the Kremlin put a more positive spin on its ally’s stance today, saying Assad “confirmed the Syrian government’s readiness to facilitate the ceasefire’s implementation”.

Their conversation was quickly followed by a call between Putin and the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, who reportedly “welcomed” the truce agreement and pledged to support Russia in its implementation.

The Saudis oppose Assad and have allegedly been supplying selected rebel groups with weapons via a Turkey-based operations centre, as well as floating the possibility of a ground invasion to oust the Syrian President.

Among his few supporters is Saudi Arabia’s arch enemy, Iran, which has admitted sending “military advisors” to support the Syrian army but is believed to directly deploying its Revolutionary Guards into combat.

President Rouhani was also on the long list of leaders speaking to Putin today, discussing “joint efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis”, according to the Russian President’s office.

He was followed by the Prime Minister of Israel, who reportedly requested the call to discuss co-operation with Russia in the Middle East and diplomatic relations between the countries continue to improve following the establishment of ties 25 years ago.

Vladimir Putin started Russia's intervention in Syria at the request of his ally, Bashar al-Assad (GETTY IMAGES)

Russia’s internal security council met on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the issues raised in the conversations, although Putin’s office has not yet released details of the meeting.

It came as the country’s defence ministry announced its latest round of air strikes in Syria, having carried out 187 strikes in 62 sorties over just two days.

Major General Igor Konashenkov said areas covered by the impending ceasefire were not targeted and only militants designated as terrorist groups by the United Nations were hit in the provinces of Hama, Raqqa, Deir Ezzor, Aleppo and Homs.

The Kremlin has insisted Isis the main target of its four-month campaign but opposition groups and Western leaders have alleged its strikes have mainly targeted areas controlled by the opposition, killing countless civilians.

Major questions remain over how Saturday’s truce will be enforced and how groups will be reprimanded for any violations.

A temporary ceasefire was initially planned to start last week following discussions in Munich but was derailed by continued fighting including a regime advance in Aleppo province.