Russia is planning to hold high-level contacts with Syria in the near future, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.

Russia will likely keep a reduced military presence in Syria, achieving a key objective for President Vladimir Putin after the downfall of the Assad regime he backed, according to people familiar with the matter.

Syria's relations with Iran and Russia remain an open wound for its people after those nations backed autocratic President Bashar Assad during the long civil war, the country's new, interim foreign minister said Wednesday.

Syria's central bank said a batch of Syrian currency had arrived at Damascus airport from Russia, where banknotes were printed under the rule of toppled President Bashar al-Assad, Syria's state news agency SANA reported on Friday.

There are already indications that HTS and ordinary Syrians are much more open to working with Russia despite its past actions under Assad than his other patron, Iran.

U.S. lawmakers warned Thursday of the danger of allowing China and Russia to gain influence in Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. The warnings came as regional and Western powers met in Paris to discuss Syria's future.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Syria's interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.

Syria's relations with Iran and Russia remain an open wound for its people after those nations backed autocratic President Bashar Assad during the long civil war, the country's new, interim foreign minister said Wednesday.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the Gaza Strip, Syria, Lebanon and the Red Sea, the site of attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels.

Syria foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shibani said on Wednesday that his country has been receiving positive messages from Russia and Iran.

Damascus] Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week in a call initiated by Moscow, marking a significant shift in relations between the two countries following the ouster of Bashar Assad.

Syria’s relations with Iran and Russia remain an open wound for the country’s people after the nations backed autocratic President Bashar Assad during its long war