Syria’s al-Assad in Moscow for talks with Putin on Wednesday

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arrived in Moscow late Tuesday for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to al-Assad’s office.

Al-Assad and Putin will meet on Wednesday, according to Syrian and Russian state media.

According to a Kremlin statement, the two will talk about mutually beneficial political, humanitarian, and economic cooperation.

Russia has been an important ally of al-Assad since the Syrian civil war began in 2011.

Russia, Turkey, and Iran are the patrons of the so-called Astana format, where representatives of the Syrian government and opposition are negotiating the country’s future.

All three states have their own interests in Syria.

Russia, for example, maintains important military bases there.

Russian state media said Putin and al-Assad last met in September 2021 when the Syrian president travelled to Moscow. (dpa/NAN)