Syria's New Leadership Engages with Russia Amid Ongoing Tensions

Thu Oct 16 2025 05:24:45 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa holds pivotal talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, marking a significant shift in relationships post-Assad.

In a remarkable diplomatic move, Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, their first meeting since Sharaa ousted Assad a year earlier. The discussions focused on strengthening ties, with Sharaa indicating a willingness to maintain Russian military presence in Syria, while also hinting at demands for the extradition of the former president. Despite shared interests for cooperation, underlying tensions remain evident.

Syria's interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has held his first talks with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow since ousting Russia's ally Bashar al-Assad 10 months ago.

Putin spoke of the special relationship between both countries.

Sharaa suggested he would continue to allow Russia access to its military bases in Syria.

He was also expected to ask for the extradition of Assad, who was granted asylum after fleeing to Moscow.

For years they were enemies, on opposing sides of a bloody civil war.

Putin used brutal military force to prop up Bashar al-Assad. And Sharaa's armed Islamist group led the rebel offensive that eventually forced Assad from power.

But on Wednesday, the Russian and Syrian leaders sat down together for the first time, putting pragmatism ahead of past enmity.

Over the past decades, our countries have built a special relationship, Putin said.

He added that there were quite a few interesting and useful undertakings on the agenda of their talks, and that Russia stood ready to do everything to fulfil them.

Sharaa said he wanted Syria to re-establish its relations with all countries, but chiefly with Russia.

We are trying to restore and redefine in a new way the nature of these relations so there is independence for Syria, sovereign Syria, and also its territorial unity and integrity and its security stability.

Warm words came from both leaders seeking a good working relationship.

Russia wants continued access to its Tartous naval port and Hmeimim military airbase on Syria's Mediterranean coast.

Sharaa suggested he would allow this, saying Syria would respect all agreements concluded throughout the great history of their bilateral relations.

He wants help to consolidate his power in Syria, secure its borders and rescue a parlous economy with access to Russian energy and investment.

Russian ministers stated they were ready to deliver foodstuffs and medication to Syria and assist in repairing damaged infrastructure.

However, amidst the smiles, tensions remain.

Syrian sources indicated Sharaa would ask for Assad's extradition to face war crime charges, a request likely to be rejected by Russia. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov mentioned the asylum granted to Assad as a necessary measure for his and his family's safety.