Regarding the length of time that the Russian air force will be deployed in Syria, Putin says:
"We will continue [the operation] for as long as the Syrian army needs support."
Putin went on to say that Russia will support the Syrians "until the start of the political process, until they have started to negotiate."
Putin says that it would take two days for the Russian air group in Syria to be withdrawn, he is stressing that this is a temporary deployment.
Putin: "I don't know if we need a base in Syria...it's possible for the Russian armed forces to be temporarily based in Syria."
"A political settlement is the only way to resolve the conflict in Syria," says Putin.
"Russia's plan for a resolution to the situation in Syria coincides in its main points with that of the United States," Putin says.
Putin says of Russia's involvement in Syria: "We are not trying to be bigger Syrians than the Syrians themselves."
Putin says that North Caucasian militants -- those fighting in Syria -- are being treated and resting in Turkey.
A tweet from Putin's official account:
"Russia has reinforced its [air] group in Syria. We have deployed the S-400 system. We have shown Syria's air defense system to be in working order."
RFE/RL's Glenn Kates tweets this about Putin's comments on the Turkomans, ethnic Turks in northern Syria whom Turkey accuses Russia of targeting.
Russia had been ready to cooperate with Turkey "on sensitive issues, and after a short time, they downed the Su-24" Putin said in comments relating to the downing by Turkey of a Russian Su-24 jet near the Syrian border last month.