Putin "positively assessed" the readiness of Assad's government to send a delegation to planned peace talks in Geneva and "expressed satisfaction" with Damascus's cooperation in the destruction of its chemical weapons arsenal, the Kremlin said in a statement.
It said that in the conversation "the hope was expressed that the main opposition groups will show a constructive approach and take part" in the Geneva conference.
"There were no conversations in the past two years -- and by that I mean the wartime period," Russian news agencies quoted Peskov as saying.
Peskov explained that the Russian side had initiated the call because "right now we are entering a very crucial moment."
More From This Section
The telephone conversation came as the Syrian government daily Al-Watan today claimed that the Geneva talks would be held on December 12.
The Kremlin statement said that during the call, "Assad thanked the Russian leadership for its help and support of the Syrian people".
Both leaders expressed "mutual interest in further developing bilateral relations".
Russia and Iran are seen as the last remaining key allies of Assad, and Moscow has irritated the West throughout the Syria conflict for refusing to halt military cooperation with Damascus.
However Moscow worked together with Washington on the accord to destroy Syria's chemical arms and the two ex-Cold War foes are also backing the holding of the Geneva peace conference.