DUSHANBE (Sputnik) — The Russian president called on the global community to put aside any geopolitical ambitions and join forces in the fight against ISIL.
"We must put aside geopolitical ambitions, abandon the so-called double standards, the policy of direct or indirect use of certain terrorist groups for opportunistic purposes, including changes of government and regimes disliked by someone," Putin said.
The Islamic State cannot be defeated without the help of the Syrian Army, the Russian leader added.
![Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin [left to right] meet each other in the Kremlin. - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/102083/44/1020834442_0:375:2948:1672_600x0_80_0_0_1d03ad23afdda2e1fe400e1de5367cd5.jpg "Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin [left to right] meet each other in the Kremlin.")
"The terrorists publicly declare they threaten Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, with plans to spread their activity to Europe, Russia, Central and Southeast Asia. We are concerned about that," Putin said.
Speaking at the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe, Putin said ISIL's control of vast tracts of Syria and Iraq represents a "serious" challenge.
ISIL has spread its activities far beyond Iraq and Syria, Putin said calling on the global community to join forces in the anti-terror fight.
"The scope of the organization's activities have gone far beyond Iraq and Syria. The terrorists conduct mass executions, plunge entire peoples into chaos and poverty, destroy cultural monuments and religious sites."
