Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to Moscow for talks on Thursday, as reported by Syria’s SANA news agency and Russia’s TASS news agency. During the meeting, Assad expressed gratitude for the support from Russia in overcoming challenges faced by both countries, highlighting the strong bond of trust between Moscow and Damascus.
Putin acknowledged the escalating tensions in the Middle East and stressed the importance of ongoing discussions between Syria and Russia. He also mentioned the potential for enhanced economic and trade relations between the two nations.
Addressing Assad, Putin expressed his pleasure in meeting again and emphasized the opportunity to discuss various aspects of their relations. Further details about the meeting have not been disclosed at this time.
This meeting follows a previous encounter between the two leaders in the Kremlin in March last year, where they engaged in extensive discussions. Russia has been a key ally of Syria, providing military support against terrorist groups since 2015. Additionally, Russia, along with Iran and Turkey, has played a significant role in facilitating negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition forces.