Putin Says Russia and U.S. Close to Breakthrough Deal on Syria

Vladimir Putin said Russia and the U.S. are close to striking a deal on fighting terrorists in Syria, potentially a major step toward ending a civil war that’s flooded Europe with refugees and helped give rise to Islamic State.

“We’re gradually, gradually heading in the right direction,” the Russian president said in an interview Thursday in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok. “I don’t rule out that we’ll be able to agree on something in the near future and present our agreements to the international community.”