Putin backs Shara’s efforts to restore Syrian integrity

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

MOSCOW, RUSSIA — Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Syria's transitional president, Ahmed Shara, in Moscow on Wednesday, expressing firm support for Shara’s ongoing efforts to restore Syria’s territorial integrity and national unity.

The high-level diplomatic meeting, held on January 28, 2026, focused on the acceleration of Syria's unification process and the future of Russian-Syrian relations. Putin specifically congratulated Shara on the integration of the Euphrates River region, calling it a significant step toward general stability, and offered the assistance of the Russian construction sector for the nation's reconstruction.

Future of military bases and diplomatic ties

According to the official TASS news agency, the meeting also served as a platform to discuss the long-term status of Russian military personnel and bases in Syria. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the presence of Russian troops was a key agenda item, though he declined to comment on the potential extradition of former president Bashar al-Assad, who is currently in Russia.

Ahmed Shara, who led the forces that took power in December 2024, reaffirmed the "depth of Syria-Russia relations" via a statement on social media. While the fate of Russian bases remained uncertain during the initial transition, Shara’s recent commitment to existing agreements suggests that the Hmeymim and Tartus facilities will remain operational under the new administration.

Russian withdrawal from Qamishli Airport

The Moscow summit coincides with reports of a strategic Russian military shift in northeastern Syria. Multiple sources, including Reuters and regional news outlets, reported that Russian forces began withdrawing from Qamishli Airport on January 23. Personnel and equipment are reportedly being transferred to the Hmeymim Airbase near Latakia.

Defense analysts suggest the withdrawal from Qamishli is a "logical" move following the Syrian army's regain of control in the northeast. Pro-Moscow observers noted that with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) losing ground and the region falling under Shara’s administration, the previous Russian role as a mediator between Kurdish forces and the central government has become redundant.

Shifts in regional control and the SDF

The meeting follows a month of intense clashes between the Syrian army and the SDF in the rural eastern Aleppo countryside. The conflict has resulted in the SDF losing significant territory they had controlled for nearly a decade.

Agreements signed on January 18 and 20 reportedly stipulate the full integration of the SDF into the Syrian national army and their withdrawal from the provinces of Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa, and Hasakah. Shara’s visit to Moscow comes just one day after a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, signaling a multifaceted diplomatic approach to Syria's transition.

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