Putin: Russia, US have narrowed their differences on Syria

President Vladimir Putin was both cordial and coarse in his year-end news conference Thursday, saying the US and Russia have narrowed their differences on Syria and share the same view of how to settle the conflict.

Putin said the Russian air campaign in Syria, which began Sept. 30, will continue until a political process begins, adding that Moscow would back the latest US proposals for a peace process in the civil war. Commenting on relations with Washington, Putin said that Russia backs a US-drafted U.N. Security Council resolution on settling the crisis. The plan was presented by US Secretary of State John Kerry during his visit to Moscow earlier this week. "In general, it suits us," Putin said. "I believe that the Syrian authorities should be OK with it, too."