Russia is not striving for leadership over Syria, President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday, October 13, at an investment conference, adding that existing cooperation with Western countries over the Syrian conflict was not enough, Reuters reports.

"Syria can have only one leader – the Syrian people," Putin said.

"We aim at making a contribution in the fight against terrorism, which is dangerous for the United States, for Russia and for the European countries, and for the whole world without exaggeration."

Russia, the United States and Europe should encourage political dialogue between the sides of the Syrian conflict, Putin added.

Putin also said that Turkey was one of Russia's most important partners, and that Russia needed to understand how to build relations with Turkey to fight terrorism.