Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday, Syrian state news agency SANA reported. The visit marks Sharaa’s first to Russia since his forces toppled long-time leader Bashar al-Assad last year.
According to SANA, the two leaders will discuss regional and international developments, as well as ways to strengthen cooperation between Syria and Russia.
According to Reuters, earlier on Tuesday, pro-government Syria TV and a source familiar with the matter confirmed Sharaa’s trip, despite the postponement of an Arab summit in Moscow that he had initially planned to attend.
A Syrian official said that the discussions will include the future of Russia’s longstanding military presence in Syria — particularly its naval base in Tartous and its air base in Hmeimim. The official added that Sharaa is expected to formally request the handover of Assad, who remains under Russian protection, to stand trial for alleged crimes against Syrians.
Sharaa, who once led the Syrian branch of al Qaeda, captured Damascus with rebel forces in December 2024, effectively ending more than a decade of Assad’s rule. After his ouster, Assad fled the capital and was granted asylum in Russia, Reuters reported.
Since then, Moscow has sought to maintain its influence in Syria’s new political landscape, continuing to back Damascus diplomatically amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory.
In July, Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani in Moscow — the first official Syrian visit since Assad’s removal, signaling ongoing cooperation between the two governments.
