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.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday spoke to Syria's new leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, the first such top-level contact since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad. The Kremlin said the “constructive and business-like” conversation touched upon “acute issues of practical cooperation in trade and economic,

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

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 Ahmed al-Sharaa and Russia’s Vladimir Putin held their first phone call on Wednesday, which comes at an uncertain time for the former allies.

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with Syria’s Interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa on Wednesday amid Kremlin efforts to clinch a deal to keep its bases in the Middle Eastern nation.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has spoken to Syria’s new leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, the first such top-level contact since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has spoken to Syria’s new leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, the first such top-level contact since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad

Russian President Vladimir Putin held his first official phone conversation on Feb. 12 with Syria’s new leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, following the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has spoken to Syria’s interim leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, the first such top-level contact since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Rebels led by al-Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group ousted Moscow’s close ally in December after a lightning offensive,

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made a trip to Ankara on Monday where he met with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss the evolving events in Syria as well as an end to the war in Ukraine.

Although this was the first direct conversation between Putin and al-Sharaa, the interim Syrian leader had previously engaged with Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and special presidential envoy Alexander Lavrentyev during a high-profile visit to Damascus in January.