Moscow: In a historic diplomatic moment, Russian President Vladimir Putin received Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the Kremlin — marking the first official meeting between Moscow and Damascus since the ouster of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad late last year.
The meeting symbolized a major shift in regional dynamics, as al-Sharaa, once the leader of the rebel movement that fought Assad’s Russian-backed forces, sought to “restore and redefine” relations with Moscow.
“We aim to rebuild our partnership on the basis of sovereignty, territorial unity, and long-term stability for Syria,” al-Sharaa said during the talks.
Despite their bitter past, both sides appeared ready to move forward. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently confirmed that Moscow granted asylum to Assad and his family “for humanitarian reasons,” but denied any political interference in Syria’s current affairs.
Putin, for his part, avoided mentioning Assad altogether, emphasizing instead that Russia and Syria share a deep relationship built on decades of cooperation, not political convenience.
The meeting’s tone reflected mutual strategic interests — particularly in energy reconstruction, oil development, and regional security. Russia still maintains two key military bases in Syria: the Tartus Naval Base and Hmeimim Air Base, both crucial for Moscow’s regional presence.
Analysts believe that al-Sharaa’s outreach to Russia is a pragmatic move, aimed at balancing internal rebuilding efforts with international diplomacy, especially as southern Syria remains unstable.
