With the Syrian government controlling most of the country and Islamic State fighter in disarray
Putin told Assad at the Monday meeting that Moscow is about to curtail its military presence there.
(so much for that "quagmire" Obama warned about)
The meeting came two days after Syrian troops and their allies captured the eastern town of Boukamal, the last major inhabited area held by the IS group in Syria. Syrian troops and their Iran-backed allies marched into the town under the cover of Russian airstrikes.
Iran and Russia have been Assad’s main backers while Turkey supports the opposition.
http://time.com/5032928/putin-assad-syria-russia-military-operation/?xid=homepage