In a significant diplomatic engagement, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met Syria’s new foreign minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, in Moscow yesterday. This marked the first visit by a top official from the reconstituted Syrian government following the fall of Bashar al-Assad last year.
Al-Shaibani led a high-level delegation that included Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, General Intelligence Service Director Hussein al-Salama, senior diplomatic adviser Ibrahim Olabi, and Mohsen Mahbash, head of the foreign minister's office. Their visit signalled the start of formal relations between the Kremlin and the newly installed authorities in Damascus.
Al-Shaibani held talks with Lavrov and also met Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov. Later, the entire Syrian delegation was received by President Putin at the Kremlin, underscoring the importance Moscow still attaches to its ties with Syria, despite the dramatic political changes in Damascus.
This is the first such engagement since Assad was ousted in a lightning rebel offensive late last year, ending five decades of dynastic rule by the al-Assad family. Despite Russia’s steadfast military and political backing for Assad during the civil war, Moscow did not intervene to halt the final rebel advance, choosing instead to offer him refuge once defeat became inevitable.
Russia’s role in aiding Assad during the civil war is well known. It was Moscow’s decisive intervention in 2015, leading with heavy aerial bombardment on rebel-held areas that turned the tide of the conflict in Assad’s favour. Russia took an active interest in aiding Assad as it wanted to retain its strategic military facilities at Tartus and Hmeimim, Moscow’s only permanent bases outside the former Soviet sphere.
Now, with Assad gone and a new interim leadership in Damascus, it remains uncertain whether Russia will be allowed to retain these bases, which have long served as logistical hubs for Russian operations in the Middle East and Africa. Neither Lavrov nor al-Shaibani publicly addressed the future of the bases during their press conference, although Lavrov indicated that Russia was open to reviewing all existing agreements and contracts “concluded under different conditions.”
Al-Shaibani echoed the sentiment, noting that such agreements must now be assessed to ensure they serve the Syrian people’s needs. He added that Syria sought “friends and partners” on its path to rebuilding after more than a decade of devastation.
Lavrov struck a conciliatory tone, stating that Russia’s friendship with Syria was long-standing and would not be swayed by political changes. He expressed hope that Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa would attend the upcoming Russia-Arab League summit in October.
“Of course, we hope that President al-Sharaa will be able to take part in the first Russia-Arab League summit, which is scheduled for October 15,” Lavrov said.
Russia has made cautious moves to maintain its influence in post-Assad Syria. A Russian delegation visited Damascus in January, followed by a phone call between Putin and al-Sharaa in February. The Kremlin described their conversation as “constructive and business-like,” indicating a willingness to build ties with the new leadership.
During the Moscow visit, Syria’s Defence Minister Abu Qasra also met his Russian counterpart, Andrei Belousov. Their discussions reportedly focused on defence cooperation and broader regional security issues. Lavrov later thanked the Syrian side for steps taken to ensure the safety of Russian citizens and facilities in Syria.
He reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to Syria’s unity, sovereignty and independence, adding that Moscow would support the country’s reconstruction and continue its dialogue with the new government.
Damascus, in turn, has expressed appreciation for Russia’s consistent opposition to Israeli strikes inside Syria. President al-Sharaa recently thanked Moscow for its “strong position in rejecting Israeli strikes and repeated violations of Syrian sovereignty,” following Israeli intervention in clashes involving government forces and Druze armed groups earlier this month.
While Russia appears keen to re-establish itself as a reliable partner for Syria, the context has shifted. The new Syrian leadership has already begun diplomatic outreach to regional players including Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the West. Russia and Iran were once Assad’s staunchest allies, but many of the new officials in Damascus have bitter memories of both powers for their roles in prolonging the civil war.
Despite the uncomfortable past, the interim government has taken a measured approach towards Russia. Lavrov’s statement that Moscow’s stand does not depend on “the political situation or changes of government” shows that the Kremlin is keen to reassure the new government of its intentions.
At the same time, Syria’s options have expanded. Western sanctions have been eased following Assad’s removal, and Gulf countries have emerged as primary backers of the transition. Russia, itself under heavy sanctions and no longer sending food aid to Syria, struggles to compete as a partner for economic recovery.
Russia, however, still needs to deal with the history of brutally bombing the rebel groups that now lead the new government, especially members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. At the moment, President al-Sharaa has signalled that he is willing to set aside past grievances in favour of a pragmatic foreign policy. Moscow’s approach, too, appears to be driven by strategic calculations. Pragmatism, therefore, could be the driver of bilateral ties.
As al-Shaibani explained during the joint press conference in Moscow, “We are not seeking to erase the past, but to build a future in which Syria walks with those who respect its sovereignty and people. Russia, we believe, can still be one of those partners.”