Syria seeks renewed cooperation with Russia in Moscow talks

Syrian President Ahmed alSharaa met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday, marking the first state visit by Syria’s leader since he seized power in December and toppled Bashar alAssad. In remarks before a private meeting at the Kremlin, alSharaa said Damascus seeks to restore and redefine relations with Moscow and would honor previous agreements, while Putin praised decades of ties and expressed support for renewed cooperation.

AlSharaa told Putin that Syria wants relations that preserve its independence, territorial unity and security, and pledged that his government would respect bilateral commitments made under previous administrations. Putin described the recent parliamentary elections in Syria as a contribution to social consolidation and said Moscow was prepared to resume intergovernmental cooperation and maintain regular diplomatic consultations.

The visit underscores a pragmatic recalibration between Moscow and Damascus after more than a decade of conflict. Russia backed Assad through much of Syria’s civil war and maintains a military presence at Khmeimim airbase and the Tartus naval facility, facilities established under an agreement extended in...