-
Moscow Talks Between Damascus and Moscow... Regarding the Future of Russian Bases
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced today (Thursday) that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar Assad discussed the topic of Russian military bases in Syria during their talks in Moscow.
In response to a question about whether the issue of the bases was addressed during the meeting, Lavrov confirmed that “everything was discussed,” according to reports from the Russian Sputnik agency.
Previously, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the presence of Russian military bases in Syria was among the topics expected to be raised during Putin and Assad’s discussions.
Additionally, Russian President Vladimir Putin, in comments yesterday (Wednesday), emphasized the close relationship between Moscow and Damascus that spans decades, clarifying that Russia’s relations with Syria have always been guided by the interests of the Syrian people.
President Bashar Assad and his accompanying delegation were received in the “Green Hall” at the Kremlin, which is the most prestigious official reception hall in the presidential palace. It is notable that Assad himself, the ousted president, has never visited this hall despite previous visits to Russia. This hall has hosted a limited number of official receptions for a few leaders, and this arrangement signifies a level of hospitality that the Kremlin is keen to demonstrate for Assad’s first official visit.
