MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin told his visiting Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad Monday that joint military operations against terrorists in Syria are coming to an end, with the focus shifting to a political process, the Kremlin said Tuesday.

"I think that now the most important thing, of course, is to turn to a political process," Putin told Assad in a surprising meeting in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi, according to a Kremlin transcript of the meeting.

They met to coordinate positions ahead of a summit of Russian, Iranian and Turkish presidents on Wednesday in Sochi to discuss preparations for a Syrian National Dialogue Congress.

The Congress is expected to bring together opposition and pro-government forces, as well as representatives of all Syrian ethnic and religious groups to work for the peace process in the country.