Assad: Russian politics based on values, not deals

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has never talked to him about leaving power, despite pressure from Washington for Assad to step down.

"They never said a single word regarding this," Assad told NBC News when asked whether Putin or Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had talked to him about a political transition in Syria.

Assad also said he is not concerned that Putin and US Secretary of State John Kerry will make a deal that would force him from power.

"Because their politics, I mean, the Russian politics, is not based on making deals. It's based on values," Reuters cited Assad as saying.