PRETORIA, April 29. /TASS/. Russia will always support Mali in its fight against terrorists, and the Russian military will continue to provide assistance to the Malian Army, Russian Ambassador to Bamako Igor Gromyko said following a meeting on Tuesday with Mali’s interim President Assimi Goita.

The Russian diplomat recounted how he had assured the Malian leader that the two countries’ militaries "will join forces" in fighting militants. "I am convinced that we will win. Russia will always stand by Mali’s side," Gromyko noted in a video recording released by the West African country’s public broadcaster ORTM.

On Tuesday, the Malian presidential office reported about the meeting between the Russian ambassador and the Malian leader. The Russian envoy became the first foreign official to meet with Goita as has been reported by Mali since April 25, when radical units attacked army positions in a number of areas across the country.

On Saturday, government troops, with support from Mali’s international allies, repelled numerous attacks by units of radical groups and brought the situation back under control by midday. Mali’s Defense Minister Sadio Camara was killed near his residence during a coup attempt in the country as a result of a suicide car bombing.