Syria’s interim president meets Putin to reaffirm ties, discuss post-Assad cooperation
Ahmed al-Sharaa pledges to uphold prior agreements with Russia, seeks economic, energy, and military support for Syria’s recovery
MOSCOW, Russia (MNTV) — Syria’s interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday, marking their first meeting since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime late last year.
The talks centered on reaffirming long-standing ties, economic reconstruction, and the future of Russia’s military presence in Syria.
During the meeting at the Kremlin, Sharaa pledged that his government would honor all previous agreements with Moscow, including those related to Russian military bases and energy projects.
“There are bilateral relations and shared interests that bind us with Russia, and we respect all agreements made with it,” Sharaa said, emphasizing a commitment to redefine cooperation between the two nations.
Putin, who had supported Assad for more than a decade, described the overthrow of the former regime as a “step toward societal consolidation” and reaffirmed that Russia’s relationship with Syria “has always been guided by the interests of the Syrian people.”
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said both sides discussed joint ventures in oil, energy, transportation, tourism, and healthcare, with Moscow expressing readiness to assist Syria’s reconstruction.
“Russian companies have been working in Syria for a long time… and we are ready to participate in developing new fields and infrastructure,” Novak told reporters.
The Kremlin confirmed that discussions also covered the future of Russia’s Hmeimim airbase in Latakia and its naval facility in Tartous, both key to Moscow’s regional military posture.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier this week that Russia planned to use its Syrian bases as logistical hubs for humanitarian operations extending into Africa.
Two Syrian sources told Reuters that Sharaa intends to formally request Russia to hand over former president Assad to face trial for alleged crimes against Syrians.
However, Moscow has maintained that Assad and his family, granted asylum last year for “humanitarian reasons,” remain under its protection.
Sharaa also sought Russia’s backing for rebuilding Syria’s armed forces, reviving wheat imports under favorable terms, and resisting Israeli calls for an expanded demilitarized zone in the south.
The Syrian leader said his administration was “re-establishing relations with regional and global partners,” noting that much of Syria’s energy infrastructure still relies on Russian expertise.
Putin concluded the meeting by reaffirming that Moscow remains committed to supporting Syria’s stability and recovery through “many useful beginnings,” signaling the continuity of a decades-long strategic alliance in a rapidly shifting regional landscape.
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