Moscow, Mar 20 (IANS): Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on Tuesday visited Syria on the instruction of President Vladimir Putin and held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Shoigu delivered a message from Putin to Assad, and they discussed fighting international terrorism in Syria, various aspects of security in the Middle East and post-conflict settlement, the Russian Defence Ministry said in a press release.

They exchanged views on expanding the possibilities for the voluntary return of refugees and temporarily displaced persons to their places of residence in Syria, as well as providing humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people, Xinhua reported citing the Ministry's release.

Syria with the support of Russia achieved significant success in the fight against international terrorism, and they saved the Syrian state and created conditions for the return of citizens to a peaceful life, Shoigu told Assad.

"However, not everyone is satisfied with the successes of the Syrian government in restoring a peaceful life. Western countries are trying to minimise any positive changes in Syria and create new obstacles to ending the crisis," Shoigu said.