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.
Only four commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, following 13 transits a day earlier, as disruptions continue to restrict traffi...
Kazakhstan has elected its first unicameral Kurultai, bringing into force a sweeping political overhaul launched less than a year ago. The vote mar...
Syrian and Israeli officials held U.S.-brokered talks in Jordan on Sunday to ease tensions after an Israeli strike on a Syrian airbase near Tü...
Iran on Saturday denounced U.S. plans to announce new sanctions that could put further strain on the Islamic Republic's economy and have an impact on its most important trading partners including China.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Kyiv wants peace but will not surrender to Russia, as foreign leaders joined Independence Day events marking 35 years since Ukraine’s independence.
A newly created pro-government political party has secured a commanding victory in Kazakhstan's snap parliamentary election, according to exit polls, strengthening President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's influence at a pivotal moment in the country's political transition.
Only four commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, following 13 transits a day earlier, as disruptions continue to restrict traffic through the key energy chokepoint.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected calls for a wartime election, arguing that holding a vote while Russia's full-scale invasion continues would divide the country and undermine national unity.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Kyiv wants peace but will not surrender to Russia, as foreign leaders joined Independence Day events marking 35 years since Ukraine’s independence.
Online fast-fashion retailer Shein is seeking to raise up to $1.77 billion in a Hong Kong IPO after its valuation fell around 70 per cent from its private-market peak four years ago.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 24th of August, covering the latest developments.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Monday that his party will introduce a bill to ban children under 16 from using social media. The proposal would allow fines of up to 10 per cent of a platform’s global revenue for non-compliance.
Icelanders will vote on Saturday, 29 August, on whether to resume negotiations with the European Union, in a referendum that could reopen the country’s long-debated membership question.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment