VIDEOS: Historic talks in Moscow: Al-Sharaa holds talks with Putin

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived at the Kremlin on Wednesday for high-level talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking a historic meeting between the two leaders.

Welcoming Sharaa, Putin highlighted the long-standing ties between the two nations. “Relations between Russia and Syria are relations of friendship,” Putin said. “They have never been dictated by political conditions or narrow interests. They are based on mutual benefits and the interests of the Syrian people.”

The Russian president also emphasized the longevity of the bilateral relationship, noting, “We have strong relations with Syria that have lasted for over 80 years. We maintain close ties with the Syrian people and aim to further develop relations with Damascus. The joint government committee between Russia and Syria will resume its work.”

President Sharaa, in turn, stressed Syria’s intention to strengthen ties with both regional and international partners. “In the new Syria, we are reestablishing relations with all regional and global countries. There are bilateral relations and shared interests that connect us with Russia, and we respect all agreements with it,” he said. Sharaa also highlighted Russia’s crucial role in Syria’s energy sector, noting that “a large part of Syria’s energy sector relies on Russian expertise.”

According to Syrian officials, Sharaa’s visit is expected to include discussions on the potential handover of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Russia after being ousted, as well as the future of Russia’s military presence in Syria.

The meeting signals a renewed emphasis on strategic cooperation between Damascus and Moscow, reinforcing decades of what Putin described as “special” relations between the two nations.