Syrian Leader Visits Russia for Second Round in Four Months

(MENAFN) Russian President Vladimir Putin met with his Syrian counterpart, Ahmed al-Sharaa, on Wednesday to discuss Syria’s reconstruction, bilateral cooperation, and Russia’s role in the country. This marked Al-Sharaa’s second visit to Moscow in four months.

Al-Sharaa, who previously led the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), came to power in late 2024 following the fall of Bashar Assad’s government. Assad fled to Russia, where he was granted asylum, and has been living in Moscow with his family since.

Russia has continued to engage with the new Syrian leadership and maintains its military presence at Khmeimim Airbase and the Tartus naval facility.

During the meeting, Putin highlighted that diplomatic relations between Russia and Syria have always been friendly and thanked Al-Sharaa for contributing to their further development. He noted that trade between the two nations has increased by 4% since their previous meeting 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.

Putin also emphasized that Moscow and Damascus plan to collaborate in fields such as healthcare, construction, industry, and sports. Russian construction companies and businesses are prepared to work with their Syrian counterparts on the country’s reconstruction.

The Russian president welcomed Damascus’ efforts to restore Syria’s territorial integrity and congratulated Al-Sharaa on reestablishing government control over areas east of the Euphrates River.

Al-Sharaa, in turn, expressed gratitude for Russia’s role in stabilizing Syria and the wider Middle East, noting that Moscow plays a significant role in the region.

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