Relations between the two countries “continue to progress,” Vladimir Putin has said
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with his Syrian counterpart, Ahmed al-Sharaa, on Wednesday to discuss Syria’s reconstruction, bilateral cooperation, and Moscow’s role in the country. This was Al-Sharaa’s second visit to the Russian capital in four months.
Al-Sharaa, who once led the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), rose to power in late 2024 following the fall of Bashar Assad’s government. The deposed Syrian leader fled to Russia, where he was granted asylum, and has since been living in Moscow with his family.
Russia has remained engaged with the new Syrian leadership and has maintained its military presence at Khmeimim Airbase and the Tartus naval facility in Syria.
During the meeting, Putin said diplomatic ties between Russia and Syria have always been friendly and thanked al-Sharaa for helping to further develop them. He added that trade volume between the two nations has grown by 4% since the previous meeting between the two presidents in October.
“While this is perhaps not as ambitious as we might have wished, it’s a positive step nonetheless, and it is a trend we should keep going. We continue to work actively to develop our partnership across all areas,” he said.
Moscow and Damascus plan to work together in a range of fields, including healthcare, construction, industry, and sports, according to Putin. Russian construction companies and businesses are ready to work jointly with their Syrian partners on the Middle Eastern nation’s reconstruction, he noted.
The Russian president also welcomed Damascus’ efforts to restore Syria’s territorial integrity and congratulated al-Sharaa on reestablishing government control over the territories east of the Euphrates River.
Al-Sharaa thanked Putin for Russia’s efforts to stabilize the situation in Syria and the Middle East, adding that Moscow plays a major role in the region.
The new Syrian government, which has been struggling to revive the economy and rein in sectarian violence since taking over, has also sought to rebuild diplomatic relations with a range of foreign nations, including the US. In December, Al-Sharaa visited Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump, who said he was “very satisfied” with Syria’s new leadership.
Credit: RT News