Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his defence minister to begin pulling out the majority of Russian troops in Syria.

"The task presented to the Defence Ministry and the armed forces has been completely fulfilled," Putin told Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

"Thus I order the defence minister to begin withdrawing the majority of our troops from the Syrian Arab Republic," Putin said in comments carried by state news agency TASS on Tuesday.

The Russian president has told his military to withdraw the "main part" of their forces in Syria - that's believed to refer to ground troops.

CNN's Nick Paton Walsh said the Kremlin doesn't make big gestures like this without significant motive, and perhaps the Russian appetite for intervention in Syria has diminished.

"What we're seeing perhaps today, is the beginning of what many have thought may have been the case - that there is more tension between Damascus and Moscow than had previously thought to have been the case."

Putin's comments come amid fresh peace talks in Geneva aimed at resolving the Syrian conflict.

Putin said he hoped the withdrawal of Russian troops will be a stimulus for a political resolution of the conflict.