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.
Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has called on South Korea to thoroughly investigate recent drone incidents and...
A Welt am Sonntag investigation, published in December 2025, has caused a stir in Germany, revealing that Chancellor Friedrich Merz initiated nearly 5...
The Nicaraguan government announced on Saturday that it had freed dozens of inmates from the country’s national penitentiary system, following press...
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa called on the African National Congress (ANC), his party, to address its poor record on delivering basic serv...
New details have emerged in the investigation of the devastating fire at the Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, which kill...
Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has called on South Korea to thoroughly investigate recent drone incidents and provide a detailed explanation, according to a statement released by state media KCNA on Sunday.
A Welt am Sonntag investigation, published in December 2025, has caused a stir in Germany, revealing that Chancellor Friedrich Merz initiated nearly 5,000 criminal complaints over online insults directed at him since 2021.
The Nicaraguan government announced on Saturday that it had freed dozens of inmates from the country’s national penitentiary system, following pressure from the U.S. for the release of more than 60 political prisoners.
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa called on the African National Congress (ANC), his party, to address its poor record on delivering basic services, ahead of upcoming local elections where the ANC is expected to lose support.
U.S. President Donald Trump has ruled out ordering a mission to capture Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he is confident the war in Ukraine can be brought to an end.
New York City parents could soon have access to free childcare for two-year-old children following a joint announcement made by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday (8 January).
Türkiye has stepped back from mediating between Pakistan and Afghanistan after repeated efforts failed to narrow deep differences between Islamabad and Kabul.
Türkiye is reportedly in discussions to join the defence alliance between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, a strategic move that could reshape security dynamics in the Middle East and South Asia.
Syrian President Ahmad al‑Sharaa held separate telephone discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday (9 January), focusing on Syria’s internal security situation, reconstruction efforts and broader regional developments.
Despite facing challenges in chip manufacturing, Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) researchers are optimistic about narrowing the technological gap with the United States, driven by an increasing culture of risk-taking and innovation.
Elon Musk announced that the social media platform X will make its new algorithm publicly available, including all code related to organic and advertising post recommendations, in seven days.
Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has called on South Korea to thoroughly investigate recent drone incidents and provide a detailed explanation, according to a statement released by state media KCNA on Sunday.
A Welt am Sonntag investigation, published in December 2025, has caused a stir in Germany, revealing that Chancellor Friedrich Merz initiated nearly 5,000 criminal complaints over online insults directed at him since 2021.
The Nicaraguan government announced on Saturday that it had freed dozens of inmates from the country’s national penitentiary system, following pressure from the U.S. for the release of more than 60 political prisoners.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment