Putin ‘promises’ to ask Assad for help in finding Austin Tice following letter from mother

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday promised to ask former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for help in locating American veteran and journalist Austin Tice following a letter from Tice’s mother pleading for assistance. 

"I haven’t seen President Assad yet, since he came to Moscow – but I plan to do so. I will have a conversation with him," Putin told NBC during a press conference according to a translator, though he appeared to cast doubt on the former president’s ability to help.