Russian President Vladimir Putin met Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Moscow on Wednesday, marking his first visit to Russia since seizing power from former leader Bashar al-Assad late last year.
At the Kremlin meeting, Putin congratulated al-Sharaa on Syria’s recent parliamentary elections and said Moscow was ready to boost political and economic co-operation with Damascus.
"I believe that this is a great success for you, because it leads to the consolidation of society, and despite the fact that Syria is currently going through difficult times, it will nevertheless strengthen ties and cooperation between all political forces in Syria," Putin said .
Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa told Russian president Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that Syria will respect all past agreements, in his first visit to Moscow since rebels led by al-Sharaa toppled Russia's ally President Bashar al-Assad last year.
"There are bilateral relations and shared interests that bind us with Russia, and we respect all agreements made with it. We are working on redefining the nature of relations with Russia," al-Sharaa, who was speaking in Arabic, told Putin.
According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, the aim of the meeting was to discuss regional and international developments, as well as future co-operation in trade, energy and security. Al-Sharaa also met members of the Syrian community in Russia.
The visit comes despite the postponement of an Arab summit in Moscow that al-Sharaa had originally planned to attend. A Syrian official told local media that discussions would also cover Russia’s continued military presence at the Tartous naval base and the Hmeimim airbase, as well as al-Sharaa’s formal request for the handover of Assad, who has been granted asylum in Russia.
Al-Sharaa, a former militant leader who headed the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda before leading rebel forces into Damascus in December, assumed the presidency in January after the collapse of Assad’s two-decade rule.
Since Assad was ousted, Moscow has sought to preserve its influence in Syria, maintaining dialogue with the new government and offering diplomatic support following Israeli strikes on Syrian territory.
In July, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani visited Moscow for talks with Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the first such meeting since the change of power in Damascus.
Putin’s meeting with al-Sharaa on Wednesday signals Russia’s intent to remain a key player in post-Assad Syria while recalibrating its alliance with the country’s new leadership.
Saudi Arabia has temporarily shut down its 1,200-kilometre East-West oil pipeline after it was hit by a drone attack, with Riyadh and Baghdad sayin...
Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces struck two cargo vessels overnight in the Ukrainian Black Sea port o...
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday he would “love” to see British-run Northern Ireland unify...
Overnight Iranian strikes on an air base in Jordan damaged multiple U.S. aircraft and left one without a wing, American media reported. Meanwhile, explosions were heard across parts of southern Iran according to local media reports.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in New Delhi on Friday to attend the weekend BRICS summit, amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, joining a host of foreign dignitaries.
Ukrainian forces struck a Russian oil refinery in Siberia and a seaport in Dagestan in the past 24 hours, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. He will meet Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday to discuss air defences for Ukraine over winter.
Mexico and the U.S. are racing to secure a trade deal before the U.S. midterm elections in less than eight weeks, according to six sources familiar with the talks, with failed negotiations between Washington and Canada adding urgency.
Dubai’s property market has spent years climbing. Now, for the first time since 2021, prices are moving in the opposite direction.
Saudi Arabia has temporarily shut down its 1,200-kilometre East-West oil pipeline after it was hit by a drone attack, with Riyadh and Baghdad saying the strike originated from Iraq.
Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces struck two cargo vessels overnight in the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Chornomorsk, the Interfax news agency reported on Saturday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday he would “love” to see British-run Northern Ireland unify with Ireland, remarks made during a visit to Dublin that drew a sharp response from pro-British unionists in Northern Ireland.
BRICS leaders have called for maximum restraint over the war in the Middle East, warning against actions that could further worsen tensions as the United States and Iran resume strikes against each other.
Dubai’s property market has spent years climbing. Now, for the first time since 2021, prices are moving in the opposite direction.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment