Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready to assist in rebuilding Syria’s war-damaged economy as the country's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa made his second visit to Moscow in less than four months on Wednesday (28 January).
In opening remarks, Putin told al-Sharaa, "I want to congratulate you on the fact that the process of restoring the territorial integrity of Syria is gaining momentum."
Putin also reaffirmed Moscow’s support for Syria’s unity. “You know that we always stood for the restoration of Syria’s territorial integrity, and we support all your efforts in this direction,” he said.
Al-Sharaa, on his second visit to Russia since ousting Bashar al-Assad in 2024, thanked Putin for helping to stabilise the situation in Syria and the wider region.
He also underlined the importance of Russia’s role in supporting Syria’s unity and stability, Syria’s SANA state news agency reported.
Reuters reported this week that Russia was withdrawing forces from Qamishli airport in northeast Syria, although it was expected to maintain its larger Hmeimim air base and Tartous naval facility on Syria's Mediterranean coast.
A Syrian foreign ministry source said Damascus viewed the withdrawal from Qamishli as a goodwill gesture.
The source added that it signalled Russia would not become involved in clashes between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as Sharaa seeks to assert central authority nationwide.
Military bases and regional security concerns
The Syrian source said a key item on the agenda was redefining the status of Russia’s military presence at Tartous and Hmeimim, which Moscow hopes to retain under a new framework in the post-Assad period.
It also added that al-Sharaa intended to raise concerns about the risk of a strike on Iran, with Damascus keen to contain any spillover from a potential U.S. or Israeli attack, particularly given Iran’s past use of Syrian airspace to target Israel.
Al-Sharaa was also seeking greater Russian engagement in future security arrangements in southern Syria, including a possible Russian military police presence in Quneitra in the Golan Heights, to serve as a buffer against Israeli incursions, the source said.
Fighting broke out earlier this month between government forces and the SDF after negotiations over merging the groups collapsed. A ceasefire is currently in place and has largely held, with the truce extended by another 15 days after an initial four-day period expired.
Despite having been on opposing sides during much of Syria’s civil war, the interim government in Damascus has signalled readiness to develop ties with Moscow, hoping Russia could help rebuild the war-ravaged country and offer an additional foreign policy channel.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance has arrived in Armenia, marking the first time a sitting U.S. vice president or president has visited the country, as Was...
Pressure is mounting on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer amid resignations and a row over Peter Mandelson, a powerful figure in the ruling Labour Party....
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari has accused Afghanistan’s authorities of fostering conditions “similar to or worse than pre-9/11”, as te...
Chinese authorities have quietly signalled a shift in strategy, instructing some state-owned banks to rein in their purchases of U.S. government bonds...
Convicted Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell refused to answer questions before Congress, while her lawyer said she could clear President Donald Trum...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 8th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Saudi Arabia and Syria have signed agreements worth about $5.3bn aimed at boosting cooperation across aviation, telecommunications and water infrastructure, marking one of the largest economic initiatives since Syria’s leadership change.
France’s “absolute priority” remains the fight against the Islamic State (IS) group, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on Thursday (5 February) during talks with his Syrian counterpart in Damascus, as Paris reassesses its counter-terrorism strategy.
Syrian government security forces entered the Kurdish-controlled northeastern city of Qamishli on Tuesday (3 February), security sources and witnesses said.
U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised American freestyle skier Hunter Hess after the athlete said he felt conflicted about representing the United States at the Winter Olympics in Italy, sparking a public clash that highlights growing political tensions surrounding the Games.
U.S. skiing great Lindsey Vonn underwent surgery in an Italian hospital on Sunday after her attempt to win Olympic downhill gold ended in a violent crash just seconds into the race at the Milano Cortina Winter Games.
Several avalanches struck northern Italy on Saturday, killing at least three people, as rescue officials warned the death toll could rise with unstable conditions persisting across the Alps.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner visited the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea on Saturday after completing a round of talks with Iran.
Russian forces attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure overnight on Saturday, marking the second such strike in less than a week, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Iran’s atomic energy chief says Tehran could dilute uranium enriched to 60 per cent if all international sanctions are lifted, stressing that technical nuclear issues are being discussed alongside political matters in ongoing negotiations.
NATO member Türkiye has dispatched several military aircraft to Germany, along with roughly 2,000 troops, to take part in the Western alliance’s largest annual military exercise.
Uzbekistan is set to introduce mandatory preparatory “zero classes” before primary school, after President Shavkat Mirziyoyev approved a decree making year-long school readiness programmes an official part of compulsory education.
The U.S. Helsinki Commission is set to refocus attention on Georgia’s domestic political crisis and its faltering relationship with Washington with a 11 February briefing titled “Georgian Dream’s Growing Suppression of Dissent.”
Kazakhstan has significantly expanded its international air connectivity last year, reopening and launching flights to 30 countries according to data released by the country’s transport authorities. By the end of 2025, Kazakhstan was operating 135 international routes.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment