The two sides had a “constructive, business-like” phone conversation, Moscow has said

Russian President Vladimir Putin has held a phone conversation with the head of the Syrian administration, Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, for the first time since the fall of former President Bashar Assad’s government, the Kremlin announced on Wednesday.

Moscow supports Syria’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, Putin told al-Sharaa, according to the Kremlin. The Russian leader stressed the importance of stabilizing the situation in the country and fostering dialogue among all ethnic, religious, and political groups in Syrian society.

“Vladimir Putin has reaffirmed Russia’s unfailing determination to contribute to the improvement of the social and economic situation in Syria, including through providing humanitarian assistance to its people,” the Kremlin’s statement read. The Russian president also hailed the historically friendly relations between the two nations, which he said were “bound by the ties of mutually beneficial cooperation.”

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The phone conversation was “constructive, business-like, and substantial,” with the sides discussing trade, economy, and education, the Kremlin said. This followed the first Russian diplomatic visit to Syria since its change in leadership in late December.

Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, who led the Russian delegation last month, said at the time that the power shift in Damascus “will not change the nature” of relations between the two nations. During the visit, Bogdanov met with al-Sharaa, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, Health Minister Maher al-Sharaa, and representatives from several Russian government agencies.

Al-Sharaa, also known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Julani, became Syria’s de facto leader in December 2024 after his Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) jihadist group launched a surprise attack on Damascus, forcing Assad to flee the country.

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Since the power shift, the new administration has repeatedly expressed its intention to maintain good relations with Moscow. In December, al-Sharaa told Al Arabiya News that the two nations share “strategic interests.” 

Earlier in February, Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra told the Washington Post that Damascus is willing to allow Russia to keep its naval and air bases in Syria, provided it serves the Arab nation’s interests.