Russian President Vladimir Putin’s traditional New Year’s telegram to President Trump included wishes for “pragmatic cooperation” between Russia and the US.

The missive was one of a series of messages issued to world leaders Saturday, the Kremlin said.

“A constructive Russian-American dialogue is especially needed to strengthen strategic stability in the world,” Putin told Trump, adding his hopes for “equality and mutual respect” between the two countries in 2018.

Meanwhile, Putin assured Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, a key Russian client in the Middle East, that Moscow will not abandon him in the new year.

Russia will “continue to render every assistance to Syria in the protection of state sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity,” Putin promised.

Putin ordered Russian forces in Syria to start withdrawing from the country this month, but said that Russia will hold on to its Syria-based Hmeymim air base and its Tartous naval facility.

Russia’s 2015 intervention in the Syrian civil war preserved Assad’s regime, despite his long record of human rights abuses.

The Russian president also sent messages to other heads of state Saturday, including Germany’s Angela Merkel, France’s Emmanuel Macron, and the leaders of former Soviet countries.

Source: AFP