Putin sends message of support to al-Sharaa amid tensions in country
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In the message, the Russian president maintained the necessity of ensuring the country's "sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity,"
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Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to the governor of Kostroma region Sergei Sitnikov during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, March 20, 2025 (AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message of support to the interim president of Syria Ahmad al-Sharaa, on efforts to stabilize the country as soon as possible.
"Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message to the head of the Syrian state, Ahmed Sharaa," said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Perkov on Thursday, adding that Putin supported efforts to quickly stabilize the situation in the country "in the interests of ensuring its sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity."
Putin reaffirmed Russia's commitment to strengthening practical cooperation with the Syrian leadership, Peskov added.
Talks ongoing with Russia on military bases
Speaking on the Russian presence in Syria in a Reuters interview on March 10, al-Sharaa revealed that negotiations with Moscow over its military presence in the country are underway. This comes as Russia maintains two military installations in Syria: Tartus Naval Base and Hmeimim Air Base.
Al-Sharaa acknowledged that while both governments had agreed to reassess prior agreements, discussions had yet to reach a conclusive resolution. "We do not want a rift between Syria and Russia, nor do we want the Russian presence to pose a danger or threat to any country. Our goal is to preserve deep strategic relations," he said.
He also revealed that his forces had refrained from directly targeting Russian positions during their uprising against Assad, emphasizing a desire for post-conflict diplomacy.
