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The Kremlin has not indicated whether it will accept al-Sharaa’s repeated requests for the extradition of Bashar al-Assad.
Published on January 28, 2026
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meets his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow as the latter seeks to secure a military presence in the country following the overthrow of former Kremlin ally Bashar al-Assad in 2024.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed before Wednesday’s meeting that discussions would focus on “the presence of our soldiers in Syria”, who are based at the Hmeimim air base and the Tartus naval base on Syria’s Mediterranean coast.
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Earlier this week, the Kremlin reportedly withdrew its forces from Kurdish-held Qamishli airport in northeastern Syria, leaving it with only its two Mediterranean bases – now its only military outposts outside the former Soviet Union.
Moscow has been struggling to establish relations with al-Sharaa since the arrival of rebel forces overturned long-time leader al-Assad in December 2024, with the aim of ensuring the maintenance of its military presence in the country, which will help strengthen its influence in the Middle East.
Pragmatic approach
Despite Putin’s massive military support for al-Assad, Damascus’ new leadership has taken a pragmatic approach to relations with Russia, allowing Moscow to maintain a presence at its air and naval bases.
Al-Sharaa adopted a conciliatory tone during his first visit in the Kremlin in October, but shelter by Russia al-Assad and his wife, who fled to Moscow after the rebel uprising, remains a thorny issue.
Peskov declined to say whether the Kremlin would agree to al-Sharaa’s repeated demands for the former president’s extradition.
Putin will be particularly keen to maintain his country’s presence in Syria, after losing another ally this month when the United States sent special forces to kidnap the Venezuelan president. Nicolas Maduro.
THE WEwhich welcomed the fall of Al-Assad, has established ever warmer ties with al-Sharaa, most recently during struggle between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and the army.
A fragile ceasefire is now in place and largely holding.
