Eleven days after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria and the former president's departure from the country, Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed that he has not met Assad since his asylum in Russia, but he stated that he is "determined" to meet him.

During his annual major press conference, in response to a question from an American journalist, Putin said, "I have not met President Assad since his arrival in Moscow, but I am determined to do so. I will definitely talk to him," according to AFP.

He also mentioned that he would inquire about the fate of missing American journalist Austin Tice.

Furthermore, Putin emphasized that Russia was not defeated in Syria but achieved its objectives there.

He confirmed that Moscow has made proposals to the new rulers in Damascus regarding the use of the two military bases there for humanitarian purposes, according to Reuters.