Putin to al-Sharaa: We support your efforts to restore the territorial integrity of Syria

Moscow, Russia – Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday for the steps taken to restore Syria’s territorial integrity. He also affirmed Moscow’s full support for Damascus’s efforts to strengthen stability and national sovereignty. This came during a meeting between the two leaders at the Kremlin.

Putin, in remarks reported by Reuters, said that Russia is closely following the progress made by the Syrian government on the ground, particularly after its forces recaptured large swathes of territory previously held by Kurdish forces. Addressing the Syrian president, he added, “I would like to congratulate you on the progress being made in the process of restoring Syria’s territorial integrity,” referring to what he described as positive developments on the ground and in the political arena.

This meeting marks President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s second visit to Russia since the ouster of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2014. This reflects the continued political coordination between Moscow and Damascus in the post-political transition phase in Syria. Furthermore, Russia is one of the most prominent international supporters of the Syrian government, both politically and diplomatically. For his part, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa expressed his appreciation for Russia’s role. He emphasized the importance of Moscow’s support in efforts to achieve stability within Syria and stressed the significance of this support in its regional context. Al-Sharaa stated that he looks forward to strengthening cooperation with Russia to serve the efforts to rebuild the Syrian state and consolidate security after years of conflict.

This rapprochement comes at a time when Syria is witnessing rapid political and military developments. This is occurring amidst government efforts to reassert control over all Syrian territory and end the manifestations of division. These efforts are taking place in parallel with regional and international attempts to advance the political settlement process.

Observers believe that Putin’s statements reflect a clear Russian desire to maintain its influence in Syria. They also aim to support the current leadership in confronting internal and external challenges, given the continued complexity of the Syrian landscape and the overlapping international interests within it.