Syrian FM meets Russian delegation led by deputy PM Novak

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani has received a visiting Russian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak at the People’s Palace in Damascus.

The expanded meeting included several senior Syrian officials, Caliber.Az reports, citing Syrian media.

According to the report, following the meeting, bilateral talks in a closed session began on a range of issues, including security, the economy, and energy.

Asaad al-Shaibani, appointed foreign minister of Syria’s transitional government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has been tasked with rebuilding Syria’s international relations. This meeting builds on al-Shaibani’s July 2025 visit to Moscow, where he met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin to discuss resetting ties based on mutual respect and Syrian sovereignty.

Russia has been a key ally of Syria since its military intervention in 2015, maintaining strategic bases in Tartus and Khmeimim. Despite tensions with the new Syrian leadership, which has criticised Russia’s role under Assad, both sides have pursued pragmatic engagement. A Russian delegation visited Damascus in January 2025, followed by a February 2025 phone call between Putin and al-Sharaa described as “constructive.” Russia has also provided humanitarian aid, including fuel, wheat, and cash, to support Syria’s recovery from a 14-year civil war that displaced over 14 million people and left 90% of the population in poverty.

By Khagan Isayev