Russia, Syria advance post-transition dialogue with Moscow ministerial talks

Syria’s transitional government has sent a high-level delegation to Moscow for talks with Russian officials, according to the state news agency SANA.

The delegation is led by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, and also includes representatives of Syria’s General Intelligence Directorate.

The visit follows a series of recent high-level contacts between Moscow and Damascus after the change of power in Syria. On October 15, Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks at the Kremlin with Syria’s interim president for the transitional period, Ahmed al-Sharaa. This meeting marked the first in-person encounter between the leaders of the two countries since the political transition in Syria.

Ahmed al-Sharaa assumed leadership of Syria after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024. Assad and his family subsequently received asylum in Russia.

In January 2025, a Russian delegation travelled to Damascus, underscoring Moscow’s continued engagement with Syria’s new authorities. 

About a month later, Putin and al-Sharaa spoke by telephone for the first time. During that conversation, the Russian president stressed that Moscow would continue to support Syria and provide humanitarian assistance.

Russia continues to maintain military bases in the Syrian cities of Tartus and Hmeimim. At the same time, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has publicly stated that the functional roles of these bases may need to be reviewed, signalling potential adjustments to Russia’s military presence in the country.

By Tamilla Hasanova