Syria’s President, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 — marking their first official meeting since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024.
The visit comes nearly a year after Assad was overthrown by rebel forces, ending his decades-long rule. Despite Moscow’s long-standing support for Assad, Putin granted the former leader and his family asylum in Russia “for humanitarian reasons,” according to Russian officials.
During Wednesday’s talks, Putin emphasized that the relationship between Russia and Syria has remained “exceptionally friendly” for over 80 years and is “not tied to political circumstances.” He described Assad’s overthrow as “a great success and a step toward societal consolidation,” adding that Syria’s latest parliamentary elections would help “strengthen cooperation among all political forces.”
President Al-Sharaa, who assumed office after the regime change, said Syria is now “re-establishing relations with all regional and global partners,” and reaffirmed that “bilateral relations and common interests connect us with Russia.” He noted that “a large part of Syria’s energy sector still depends on Russian expertise.”
Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak confirmed that Moscow is prepared to assist in Syria’s reconstruction after years of devastating civil war. “We discussed specific projects in energy, transport, tourism, healthcare, and cultural cooperation,” Novak said, adding that Russia “is ready to provide support and actively participate in rebuilding Syria.”
The meeting follows months of instability in southern Syria, where violent clashes earlier this year between Druze and Bedouin communities left hundreds dead. The conflict prompted limited Israeli military intervention, with Israel claiming it sought to protect the Druze population before a ceasefire was eventually brokered.
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