Bashar al-Assad has thanked Vladimir Putin and the Russian military for helping to save his country as the Russian president prepared to host the leaders of Iran and Turkey for high-level talks about ending the Syrian war.

Mr Assad made a secret visit to Sochi on Monday, only his second trip outside of Syria since 2011, and met with Mr Putin for three hours to discuss a potential political settlement for Syria’s future.

The Russian and Syrian leaders struck triumphant note as they assessed that the Syrian regime was moving “towards the final and inevitable defeat” of the Islamic State (Isil) and Syrian rebel groups.

“I have conveyed to [Mr Putin], and on his behalf to the Russian people, our gratitude for Russia’s efforts to save our country,” said Mr Assad as he met with Russian generals,

"In the name of the Syrian people, I greet you and thank you all, every Russian officer, fighter and pilot that took part in this war.”

Mr Putin ordered Russian forces to intervene in Syria on Mr Assad’s behalf in late 2015. Over the course of two years of fighting, Russian forces and their Iranian allies have swung the tide of war decisively in Mr Assad’s favour.