Russia launched its long-awaited offensive across Syria on Tuesday just hours after Vladimir Putin discussed the conflict with the U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, Financial Times reported.

The newspaper noted that the Trump camp did not say whether the two leaders had discussed Syria on the Monday evening telephone call, but the Kremlin said they agreed on the need for joint efforts to fight terrorism and discussed the possibility of a settlement to the five-year Syrian conflict.

Financial Times reminded that the Republican praised Putin during his presidential campaign and called him a strong leader, as well as welcomed participation of Russian Armed Forces in the resolution of Syria’s conflict.

The day before Russian Armed Forces resumed air strikes on terrorists in Syria. Russia’s defence minister Sergei Shoigu stated that the air strikes were targeting ISIS and Syrian jihadis, their ammunition depots and training camps, in the provinces of Idlib and Homs.

The telephone conversation between Putin and Trump took place on Monday evening.