Putin on Trump decision to leave Syria: 'Donald is right'

Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he agrees with President Donald Trump that it's time for U.S. troops to leave Syria.

Putin's remarks came one day after the United States said it would withdraw all forces from Syria.

"Donald is right and I agree with him," Putin said in his annual meeting with reporters. "If the U.S. decided to withdraw its contingent, it has done the right thing. We see no signs of withdraw, but we admit that this is possible, especially since we are moving along the path of a political settlement."

Putin has said the U.S. presence in Syria was illegitimate, but agrees with U.S. military officials that the Islamic State in Syria has largely been defeated on the ground and has suffered "serious blows." Trump said the U.S. has won against the terrorist group.

"We've beaten them and we've beaten them badly. And now it's time for our troops to come home," Trump said Wednesday.

Trump warned that the American military he's building will be the most powerful in the world and the terrorists will be "doomed" if they attack the United States.

Does the USA want to be the Policeman of the Middle East, getting NOTHING but spending precious lives and trillions of dollars protecting others who, in almost all cases, do not appreciate what we are doing? Do we want to be there forever? Time for others to finally fight.....

- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 20, 2018

After historic victories against ISIS, it's time to bring our great young people home! pic.twitter.com/xoNjFzQFTp

- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 19, 2018

Others like British conservative and defense minister Tobias Ellwood disagree that U.S. forces should leave Syria, where terrorism and civil war have endured for years.

"It has morphed into other forms of extremism and the threat is very much alive," Ellwood said.

French defense minister Florence Parly tweeted concerns that the Islamic State, which has lost 90 percent of its territory in Syria, hasn't been fully removed.

Chris Meserole, a Middle East expert at the Brookings Institution, said a U.S. pullout would be a "likely" mistake.