Putin hosts Syrian president Ahmed al‑Sharaa in Moscow on Wednesday. It is the second meeting between the two leaders in four months, following the 2024 coup that restored Bashar al‑Assad to power. The talks will cover bilateral ties and the situation in the Middle East as Moscow seeks to keep its military bases in Syria intact. Al‑Sharaa is demanding the extradition of former dictator Bashar al‑Assad, who is now in Russia. Meanwhile, Russia has pulled its forces and weapons from the Qamishli airport in the northeast, a site it had held since 2019 under an agreement with Turkey, after Kurdish forces retained control. Russian support for the Syrian government has been a key factor in the ongoing war. Western leaders, including the United States, France, the United Kingdom and Germany, have warned that a security vacuum could benefit ISIS fighters. President Trump has said the situation is "going very well" following a phone call with al‑Sharaa.

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