Kremlin says 'nothing to report' on Assad after Putin-Sharaa talks

Russia has stated it has "nothing to report" regarding the status of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad following talks between President Vladimir Putin and Syria's current President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Moscow. The Kremlin's response came during President Sharaa's first official visit to Russia, the country that has granted asylum to Assad since his ouster from power in December 2024.

Diplomatic Discussions in Moscow

During their meeting, Sharaa assured Putin that Syria intends to restore "historic and strategic" relations with Russia and will honor all previous agreements between Moscow and Damascus. President Putin characterized the bilateral relationship as "exclusively friendly" and praised Syria's recent parliamentary election as a "great success" that would contribute to societal consolidation. The discussions marked an important step in redefining Russian-Syrian relations under the new leadership in Damascus.

Kremlin's Evasion on Assad's Status

When questioned about whether Assad's extradition had been addressed during the presidential talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, "We have nothing to report on Assad here, we have nothing to report in this context." The response maintains the ambiguity surrounding the former leader's future, whom Russia granted asylum immediately following his removal from power. Peskov also denied that any discussions had taken place regarding a potential return visit by Putin to Syria, though he noted such invitations could be extended through diplomatic channels.

Russian Military Presence in Syria

Peskov confirmed that the status of Russia's military installations in Syria formed part of the discussion agenda between the two leaders. Moscow maintains two significant military facilities in Syria: a naval base in Tartus and the Hmeimim air base, both strategically positioned along Syria's Mediterranean coastline. These bases have served as crucial assets for Russia's military presence in the Middle East since its intervention in the Syrian conflict in 2015.