Following a letter from Austin Tice’s mother requesting assistance, Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged during a press conference to ask former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for help in locating the missing American journalist and veteran. While acknowledging the complexities of the situation given the 12-year-old conflict, Putin expressed his intention to raise the matter directly with Assad, though he seemed uncertain about Assad’s capacity to provide useful information.

Putin’s promise followed a letter from Debra Tice to the Kremlin, urging Putin to leverage his connections with the Syrian government to aid in the search for her son, who disappeared after being detained in Damascus in August 2012. The letter highlighted the long-standing refusal of the Syrian government to cooperate in securing Tice’s release.

Debra Tice defended her decision to reach out to Putin, emphasizing Russia’s longstanding presence in Syria and their potential access to information about Tice’s whereabouts. The State Department has intensified its efforts to locate Tice, offering a $10 million reward and actively pursuing all available leads through various channels and partners.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored the State Department’s commitment to finding Tice, asserting that they are pursuing every lead and employing all possible resources, including direct engagement with relevant Syrian authorities and on-the-ground partners.