₦airaland Forum

Syria's interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has held his first talks with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow since ousting Russia's ally Bashar al-Assad 10 months ago.

Putin spoke of the "special relationship" between both countries.

Sharaa suggested he would continue to allow Russia access to its military bases in Syria.

He was also expected to ask for the extradition of Assad, who was granted asylum after fleeing to Moscow.

Putin used brutal military force to prop up Bashar al-Assad. And Sharaa's armed Islamist group led the rebel offensive that eventually forced Assad from power.

But on Wednesday, the Russian and Syrian leaders sat down together for the first time, putting pragmatism ahead of past enmity.

"Over the past decades, our countries have built a special relationship," Putin said.

He added that there were "quite a few interesting and useful undertakings" on the agenda of their talks, and that Russia stood ready to "do everything to fulfil them".

Sharaa said he wanted Syria to re-establish its relations with all countries, but "chiefly with Russia".

"We are trying to restore and redefine in a new way the nature of these relations so there is independence for Syria, sovereign Syria, and also its territorial unity and integrity and its security stability."

They were warm words from two men seeking a good working relationship.

Russia wants continued access to its Tartous naval port and Hmeimim military airbase on Syria's Mediterranean coast.

Sharaa suggested he would allow this, saying Syria would "respect all agreements concluded throughout the great history" of their bilateral relations.

In turn, he wants help to consolidate his power in Syria, secure its borders and rescue a parlous economy with access to Russian energy and investment.

Russian ministers said they were ready to deliver foodstuffs and medication to Syria, and to help repair damaged power and transport infrastructure.

But amid the smiles, tensions remain.

Syrian sources said Sharaa would ask for Assad to be extradited so the exiled leader could face trial for war crimes. It is thought unlikely Russia would agree.

On Monday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters that Russia had granted asylum to Assad because he and his family had "faced the risk of physical elimination".

Savenigeria2023:
Its a world of interest. Assad is of no use and has been disposed.

In all you do, make sure you have value in this life

Botragelad:
According to writteng (also known as Kalingrad....) and the other Russian bots on here pushing their Russia-propaganda, does that mean, by their own logic, that Russia meeting with Putin implies he is funding al-Qaeda, and therefore Russia equals al-Qaeda?

Why is Putin meeting with a terrorist in the first place? I wonder what writteng will have to say about this. 😅

Botragelad:
According to writteng (also known as Kalingrad....) and the other Russian bots on here pushing their Russia-propaganda, does that mean, by their own logic, that Russia meeting with Putin implies he is funding al-Qaeda, and therefore Russia equals al-Qaeda?

Why is Putin meeting with a terrorist in the first place? I wonder what writteng will have to say about this. 😅

owobokiri:
You have to give it to the guy. He knows how to play international politics.
I mean, inspite of his radical religious past, he seem to understand the importance of pretending to be open minded in other succeed.
For an ex al qaeda wanted man, to move from the white house to the kremlin in a week is awesome ..

Botragelad:
According to writteng (also known as Kalingrad....) and the other Russian bots on here pushing their Russia-propaganda, does that mean, by their own logic, that Russia meeting with Putin implies he is funding al-Qaeda, and therefore Russia equals al-Qaeda?

Why is Putin meeting with a terrorist in the first place? I wonder what writteng will have to say about this. 😅

Jaga9ja:
He met Donald Trump, and everyone, including that Russian bot, Writer... was babbling that it is because US and Israel was his sponsor.


Now that he has met with Putin, what do you guys have to say?


Maybe Putin and Trump was his sponsor then

The deed has been done, ... and bro is just turing top countries for economy and political posturing.

Whobedatte:
A Russian helicopter crashed yesterday and killed four Russian scientists and Engineers in Russia .
Writerng , Kraningard or whatever name he calls himself should do the needful same way he would have done if it happened in the US

owobokiri:
You have to give it to the guy. He knows how to play international politics.
I mean, inspite of his radical religious past, he seem to understand the importance of pretending to be open minded in other succeed.
For an ex al qaeda wanted man, to move from the white house to the kremlin in a week is awesome ..