Putin holds first phone call with Syria’s new president

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa held a phone call, the Kremlin said Wednesday, their first contact since the fall of Moscow-ally Bashar al-Assad last year.

"Vladimir Putin wished success to Ahmed al-Sharaa in solving the tasks facing the new leadership of the country for the benefit of the Syrian people," the Kremlin said in a readout, adding that Putin emphasised his support for Syria's "territorial integrity".