Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu held talks with Syrian Defense Minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

"Today, negotiations were held in Moscow between Russian Defense Minister Gen. of the Army Sergei Shoigu, and the Minister of Defense of the Syrian Arab Republic, Corps Gen. Mahmoud Abbas. During the talks, the parties discussed the situation in Syria, as well as topical issues of bilateral military and defense industry cooperation. The defense ministers of Russia and Syria stressed the importance of continuing close cooperation aimed at maintaining stability in the Syrian Arab Republic," the ministry said.

Shoigu also sent his sympathies to the Syrian people in relation to the earthquake that struck the country in February of this year.

He said in a statement, "my condolences to the families of the victims, to the people of Syria. This is a big tragedy. We will try to be with you at this time, to be close, and our group provided assistance, through our services and humanitarian assistance, in general, Russia responded to the great misfortune that befell the Syrian people." 

The meeting, which was held in a "friendly environment," affirmed the intention to advance Russian and Syrian collaboration in the field of defense and the fight against terrorism, the ministry claims.

 Shoigu noted that "in recent years, we have come a long way with you, a huge distance, in terms of liberating the territory of Syria from international terrorism. Of course, there is still a lot of work ahead, but at the same time, most of this work has been done."

Abbas in turn thanked Shoigu for the assistance provided by the Russian military and expressed hope for ongoing cooperation. 

Earlier, Syria's President Bashar Al-Assad arrived in Moscow as per a statement from the Syrian Presidency via Telegram. 

The statement added that Al-Assad will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit, along with a big Syrian ministerial delegation.

In a statement, the Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold talks with Syria's leader Bashar Al-Assad in Moscow on Wednesday.

"Topical issues of further development of Russian-Syrian cooperation in the political, trade, economic and humanitarian spheres, as well as prospects for a comprehensive settlement of the situation in and around Syria will be discussed," the Kremlin revealed on Tuesday.

This comes shortly after a Turkish diplomatic source revealed on Monday that a meeting that will involve Syria, Turkey, Russia, and Iran at the level of Deputy Foreign Ministers is set to be held on March 15 and 16 in Moscow.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced earlier last week that a technical delegation will head to Moscow, prior to the planned foreign ministers' meeting in mid-March.

"The Iranian side will also attend this meeting. At this meeting, preparations for the foreign ministers' meeting will be made," Cavusoglu said at a joint news conference with his Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, in Ankara.