American filmmaker Oliver Stone on Wednesday hailed Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "stabilizing force" in the Middle East, particularly in war-ravaged Syria, Eurasia Diary reports citing Jakarta Post.
The Academy Award-winning director of hits such as Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July and JFK has long lionized Putin, including in a controversial 2017 documentary in which he interviewed the Russian leader.
"Putin is a stabilizing force in the Middle East... and Syria... contrary to the US," he told the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in the Saudi capital Riyadh.
Stone's comment comes as Russian forces filled a void in northeast Syria earlier this month left by the sudden withdrawal of American troops, leaving their Kurdish allies in the lurch.
"Mr Putin was always concerned about the terrorists. If they had gotten to Damascus... there would be a possible caliphate throughout this whole region," Stone said.
"Mr Putin doesn't have the oil interest in mind. He has the concept of keeping a balance and respecting the sovereignty of these countries."