Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on July 31, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Add as preferred source on GooglePutin meets Syrian FM in Moscow, inviting President Sharaa to the Russia-Arab summit, marking the first high-level visit since Assad's ousting.
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with Syria's foreign minister Asaad al-Shibani in Moscow on Thursday, the first visit by a top official from Syria's new government since the toppling of longtime Russian ally Bashar al-Assad in December.
Lavrov said Moscow would like Syria's new President Ahmed al-Sharaa to attend a summit between Russia and Arab League member states in Moscow in October.
"Of course, we hope that President al-Sharaa will be able to take part in the first Russia-Arab League summit, which is scheduled for October 15," Lavrov said.
Sharaa, who once headed the Syrian branch of Al Qaeda, led rebels into Damascus in December and installed a new government. Assad fled the capital and was granted asylum in Russia.
Moscow has since attempted to preserve ties with Syria's new authorities, including offering Damascus diplomatic support over Israeli strikes on Syrian territory.
Putin received Shibani and his accompanying delegation at the Kremlin, Syria's state news agency SANA reported without providing further details on the meeting.
At a joint news conference, Shibani said his trip to Moscow was intended "to start a necessary discussion ... based on the lessons of the past, to formulate the future".
He said he had agreed with Lavrov on establishing two committees tasked with re-evaluating past agreements between Syria and Russia.
"There are many opportunities for a united strong Syria, we hope Russia stands with us on this pathway," Shibani said.
Lavrov thanked Syrian authorities for ensuring the security of two Russian bases in the country, where Moscow continues to maintain a presence, as well as backing the removal of sanctions on Syria.
In May, the Russian foreign minister warned of "ethnic cleansing" of Syrian religious minorities by "radical militant groups".
(Reporting by Olesya Astakhova; Additional Reporting by Enas Alashray in Cairo; Writing by Felix Light and Maya Gebeily; Editing by Mark Trevelyan and Giles Elgood)
Putin met with Syria's foreign minister Asaad al-Shibani and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Lavrov expressed hope that President Ahmed al-Sharaa would attend the first Russia-Arab League summit scheduled for October 15.
Shibani's visit aimed to start discussions on the future of Syria based on lessons from the past.
Lavrov thanked Syrian authorities for ensuring the security of Russian bases in Syria and for supporting the removal of sanctions on Syria.
Lavrov warned of potential 'ethnic cleansing' of Syrian religious minorities by radical militant groups.
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