President Vladimir Putin said at the start of talks with Syria's foreign minister Walid Muallem on Monday that there was no change in Russia's support for the Syrian leadership.Syria's crisis, which began in March 2011, has killed more than 220,000 people. Russia has been seen as a key figure to a peaceful solution.Russia has previously rebuffed suggestions that Assad's resignation could help put an end to the war.Putin also called on other countries in the Middle East to help Syria fight armed factions that now control parts of the Syrian capital and large parts of the city's suburbs.Putin said he hoped for an end to Syria's five year-old conflict, adding: "We are convinced that in the end the Syrian people will win."Meanwhile, Muallem stated that Assad regime received promises from Russia to help Syria "politically, economically and militarily."