As he found odd that Russia be the only country reassessing its position on Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin said western countries should review their stances over the ongoing crisis in Syria.

As he found odd that Russia be the only country reassessing its position on Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin said western countries should review their stances over the ongoing crisis in Syria.

"Why should Russia be the only one reassessing its position? Perhaps our negotiating partners should reassess their position," Putin told Russia Today television.

"Because if you recall what happened in recent years... you will see that far from all of our partners' initiatives ended the way they wanted them to," he said in reference to Western involvement in countries such as Libya.

The Russian leader stressed that the solution of the crisis should be through talks, insisting that the fate of the government would be decided by the Syrians themselves.

"To us, the most important thing is to end the violence, to force all the sides in the conflict... to sit down at the negotiating table, determine the future and ensure the security of all the participants of the domestic political process," Putin said.

"Only then move on to these practical steps about the internal organization of the country itself."
Putin dismissed criticism that Russia was shielding Assad by using its veto at the United Nations Security Council.

"We understand perfectly well that changes there are needed, but believe that this does not mean that these changes should be bloody," said Putin.
"We have an equal amount of respect for all," he stressed.