epa04986396 A picture made available on 21 October 2015 shows Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin (3-R), Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (2-R) and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (R) during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, 20 October 2015. Beleaguered Syrian President Bashar al-Assad travelled to Moscow for talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin revealed on 21 October 2015. Assad and Putin discussed the situation in war-torn Syria on 20 October 2015 evening during the talks that had not been made public in advance, the Kremlin spokesman said. The talks dealt with the 'fight against terrorist extremist groups' and with Russian air support for attacks by Syrian troops on the ground. Russia has been carrying out airstrikes in Syria since the end of September. Moscow has declared the so-called Islamic State (IS or ISIS) as the main enemy, but Western nations have accused Moscow of attacking other groups opposed to the Assad regime. EPA/ALEXEY DRUZHINYN/RIA NOVOSTI/POOL