Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa shake hands during their meeting at the Grand Kremlin Palace on Oct. 15. (Credit: Photo AFP)
Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa made his first trip to Russia since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad on Dec. 8, 2024. Russian President Vladimir Putin warmly welcomed Sharaa in Damascus on Wednesday, Oct. 15, saying his country has “very deep ties with the Syrian people.” Sharaa said he wanted to “redefine” relations with Moscow. And a Syrian government official, quoted by AFP, said the president would ask Putin to “hand over all those who have committed war crimes and are in Russia, first and foremost Bashar al-Assad.”The murky ties between Damascus and the former patron of Bashar al-Assad’s ousted regime appear to be easing. During a visit to Damascus on Sept. 9, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak delivered an official invitation on behalf of President Vladimir Putin to the Syrian president to attend the Russia-Arab...
Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa made his first trip to Russia since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad on Dec. 8, 2024. Russian President Vladimir Putin warmly welcomed Sharaa in Damascus on Wednesday, Oct. 15, saying his country has “very deep ties with the Syrian people.” Sharaa said he wanted to “redefine” relations with Moscow. And a Syrian government official, quoted by AFP, said the president would ask Putin to “hand over all those who have committed war crimes and are in Russia, first and foremost Bashar al-Assad.”The murky ties between Damascus and the former patron of Bashar al-Assad’s ousted regime appear to be easing. During a visit to Damascus on Sept. 9, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak delivered an official invitation on behalf of President Vladimir Putin to the Syrian president to attend the...
