Putin grants asylum to Assad and asserts Russia's strength in first speech since ousting

Vladimir Putin has granted political asylum to Bashar al-Assad following his ousting in Syria. In his first speech since the event, Putin emphasized his own strength, contrasting it with Assad's defeat, and stated he would not be broken. Putin's comments came during an awards ceremony for soldiers involved in the Ukraine conflict. He declared that Russia would not face defeat, asserting that the country has the truth and strength on its side. The situation in Syria has shifted dramatically, with rebels celebrating their victory and taking control of Damascus. The Russian government expressed surprise at the rapid developments and is monitoring the situation closely.