Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Russian President Vladimir Putin met on October 15, 2025, at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow. This was their first face-to-face meeting since al-Sharaa’s transitional government took power in December 2024.
Sharaa was greeted with full diplomatic honors by the presidential guard, followed by a cordial handshake with Putin in an effort to show a warm welcome from the Russian side.
The leaders engaged in formal talks, beginning with brief televised remarks where they spoke through translators, with al-Sharaa speaking in Arabic. These opening statements were followed by closed-door discussions to address highly sensitive topics.
Putin was joined by high-ranking officials including Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. Al-Sharaa was accompanied by a senior delegation, including Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, and General Intelligence Director Hussein Al-Salama.
The visit was marked by a shift in tone as both sides sought to redefine their partnership, moving away from the previous regime’s total dependency on Russia toward a more sovereign, reciprocal diplomatic model.
Russian military bases in Syria
Both sides discussed the future of Russia’s bases, especially the Tartous naval base and Hmeimim airbase, which Moscow built during its 2015 intervention. Sharaa publicly committed to honoring all past Syria-Russia agreements, effectively signaling that Russia can keep using these facilities. This reassured Moscow that its strategic foothold is not under immediate threat.
Assad asylum and extradition push
Russia has granted asylum to Bashar al-Assad and his inner circle, who fled to Moscow after being toppled in December 2024. Russian officials say this was on humanitarian grounds due to security threats.
Multiple sources report that Sharaa wants Assad extradited to Syria for trial on alleged war crimes and crimes against the Syrian people, although Putin’s camp is widely expected to reject this, seeing Assad as a protected former ally.
Sharaa’s economic and security agenda
Sharaa sought Russian food and medical aid, assistance in rebuilding power and transport infrastructure, and the resumption of preferential wheat supplies to help stabilize an economy shattered by war.
He also floated more Russian commercial and reconstruction involvement in Syria’s energy sector and other infrastructure projects, betting on Moscow as an alternative or complement to Western partners.
Broader strategic framing
Putin described Russia-Syria ties as unique and long-standing, stressing that Moscow’s interest lies in maintaining a security foothold and economic influence in the eastern Mediterranean despite the leadership change.
Sharaa presented himself as trying to position Syria as an independent but pragmatic partner, balancing ties with Russia, regional neighbors, and global players, while using Moscow to bolster his domestic authority and deter Israeli cross-border operations.
Al-Sharaa is scheduled to meet Putin again in Moscow on January 28, 2026. This visit aims to further bolster the international legitimacy of the transitional government and finalize specific military and economic cooperation protocols.
Why it matters
The meeting between al-Sharaa and Putin represents a critical turning point in Syria’s post-Assad transition, with Russia confirming its continued strategic presence while the new Syrian government seeks to balance sovereignty with practical cooperation. By committing to honor past agreements on Russian military bases, al-Sharaa has secured Moscow’s support for his transitional government, even as he pushes for Assad’s extradition on war crimes charges.
The talks also signal Syria’s attempt to diversify its international partnerships while leveraging Russian support to deter Israeli military operations and stabilize its war-shattered economy. With a second summit scheduled for early 2026, both sides appear committed to building a more reciprocal relationship that serves their respective strategic interests.
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