Syrian Leader Meets Putin to ‘Redefine’ Ties Amid Assad Asylum Tensions
<p><strong>Syrian leader seeks reset in Russia relations during Moscow visit with Putin</strong></p><p>Syrian interim President Ahmad Al Sharaa met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Grand Kremlin Palace on Wednesday, marking a crucial diplomatic moment as Damascus seeks to “redefine” its long-standing relationship with Moscow after the fall of former president Bashar Al Assad.</p><p>The meeting, their first since Al Sharaa assumed office following Assad’s ouster last December, comes at a pivotal time for both nations. Russia, once Syria’s most powerful ally, now faces uncertainty over its military footprint in the country, while Al Sharaa’s transitional government is trying to rebuild legitimacy and international credibility after years of conflict and isolation.</p><h3><strong>Warm gestures, tense agenda</strong></h3><p>Cameras captured a cordial greeting between the two leaders at the Kremlin, with Putin describing the “special relations” that have connected Russia and Syria for decades. But behind the formalities, sources say the discussions were far more delicate.</p><p>According to Syrian officials, Al Sharaa is pressing Moscow to extradite Bashar Al Assad, who fled to Russia with his family after being overthrown. The former president has reportedly lived under Russian protection in Moscow for nearly ten months.</p><p>A senior Syrian government source told AFP ahead of the meeting that Al Sharaa planned to “ask the Russian president to hand over all individuals who committed war crimes and are in Russia, most notably Bashar Al Assad.”</p><p>The Kremlin has resisted those demands. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed earlier this week that Assad continues to reside in Moscow “for purely humanitarian reasons.” Lavrov reiterated that Russia had granted asylum “to ensure his safety” and has no plans to extradite him.</p><h3><strong>Strategic bases under review</strong></h3><p>Another sensitive issue on the table is the fate of Russia’s prized military installations in Syria — the naval base at Tartus and the Hmeimim air base near Latakia. These bases, secured under long-term agreements with the Assad government, have been crucial to Russia’s military operations in the Middle East and its projection of power in the Mediterranean.</p><p>However, their status has been uncertain since Al Sharaa’s Islamist-led forces seized control of Damascus and other key areas late last year. Analysts say Al Sharaa may seek to renegotiate the terms of Russia’s presence, ensuring Syria’s sovereignty while maintaining strategic cooperation with Moscow.</p><p>“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 stability,” Al Sharaa told Putin during their opening remarks.</p><h3><strong>A complicated partnership</strong></h3><p>Russia’s involvement in Syria dates back to 2015 when it intervened militarily to bolster Assad’s government. Russian air power helped turn the tide of the civil war, enabling government forces to recapture key territory from rebel groups, including the Idlib region — then under the control of Al Sharaa’s faction, Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS).</p><p>Moscow’s extensive bombing campaigns in rebel-held areas were decisive but controversial. Human rights groups accused Russian warplanes of targeting civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, markets, and schools, during the 2019–2020 offensives. Tens of thousands of civilians were displaced or killed.</p><p>At the time, Russia brokered “reconciliation deals” that facilitated the evacuation of fighters and civilians to Idlib. However, Al Sharaa’s faction, HTS, was excluded from these agreements, as Moscow officially designated the group a terrorist organization in 2020.</p><p>Today, as Syria transitions into a post-Assad phase, Moscow’s challenge lies in maintaining influence without being seen as backing a former regime now condemned by the new leadership.</p><h3><strong>Putin’s balancing act</strong></h3><p>For Putin, the meeting underscores Russia’s broader effort to retain a foothold in the Middle East amid shifting regional dynamics. Analysts believe Moscow hopes to keep access to its Mediterranean bases while positioning itself as a mediator capable of dealing with both former loyalists and new governments.</p><p>“Russia is playing a pragmatic long game,” said Dr. Irina Petrov, a senior fellow at the Moscow Center for Strategic Studies. “While Assad’s era has ended, Moscow wants to ensure that the new Syrian leadership remains friendly, or at least dependent, on Russian goodwill.”</p><p>Putin, in his public remarks, refrained from addressing the contentious asylum issue directly. Instead, he praised the “historic friendship” between the two nations and expressed confidence that their cooperation “will continue to serve regional stability and mutual interests.”</p><h3><strong>Path toward normalization</strong></h3><p>Al Sharaa’s visit marks his most significant diplomatic engagement since assuming the presidency. His administration has been working to re-establish Syria’s international presence, including through outreach to Arab states and discussions with Western nations about humanitarian aid and reconstruction.</p><p>The Syrian interim leader’s tone in Moscow suggested a pragmatic approach — balancing gratitude for Russia’s past support with a clear desire for autonomy and a fresh start. “Our relations must evolve in a way that reflects the new realities of Syria — free, unified, and stable,” he said.</p><p>As the talks concluded, neither side announced concrete decisions on Assad’s extradition or the future of Russia’s military presence. However, both leaders agreed to continue dialogue through diplomatic and defense channels.</p><p>For now, the meeting stands as a symbolic but significant step in redefining one of the Middle East’s most consequential alliances — one that helped shape, and may yet reshape, the future of Syria after more than a decade of devastating war.</p>