SOCHI, May 18. /TASS/. The negotiations between Russian and Syrian Presidents Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad held in Sochi on Thursday lasted more than three hours, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"The talks [between Putin and Assad in Sochi] lasted more than three hours," he noted. According to the Kremlin spokesman, taking part in them were Russia’s top diplomat Sergey Lavrov, Acting Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Presidential Envoy for the Syrian Settlement Alexander Lavrentiev.

On Thursday, Assad paid a brief unannounced visit to Sochi. During his talks with Putin, the two leaders discussed the fight against terrorism in Syria, the political settlement process, including work on the country’s Constitution, humanitarian issues and rebuilding Syria’s economy.