Russia considers contacts with new Syrian authorities 'important'

ISTANBUL

The Kremlin views contacts between the Russian delegation and Syria’s new leadership as significant and intends to maintain dialogue, a Russian official said Wednesday.

“This is an important trip, important contacts, because it is necessary to build and maintain a constant dialogue with the Syrian authorities, which we are engaged in and will continue to engage in,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, cited by TASS.

Russian authorities will continue to establish dialogue with the new leadership of Syria, Peskov added.

“We will continue dialogue with the Syrian authorities,” Peskov added.

Asked about media reports claiming the Syrian authorities had asked Russia for compensation to restore trust and extradition of Bashar Al Assad, Peskov said: "I leave this without any comments."

Earlier, Russian media outlets reported that a Russian delegation led by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Presidential Special Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev arrived in Damascus, marking the first visit by Russian officials to the country since the ouster of Bashar Assad’s regime last December.

Following talks with Syrian authorities, Bogdanov described the three-hour meeting as "constructive" and reaffirmed Moscow’s continued support for Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

During the meeting, the Russian delegation emphasized the need to resolve the country’s challenges through an inclusive dialogue involving all political forces, as well as ethnic and religious groups. The parties also discussed the future of Russian military bases in Syria, he said.

Bogdanov stated that the negotiators agreed to continue consultations and, at present, there are no changes in Russia’s military presence in Syria.

The visit came just days after the European Union linked the lifting of sanctions on Syria to the withdrawal of foreign armed forces from its territory, urging Syrian authorities to require Russia to vacate its military bases in Khmeimim and Tartus.

Commenting on the Doomsday Clock moving closer to nuclear midnight, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said it reflects global tensions and acknowledged that concerns about escalating conflicts are justified.

"This assessment is made by certain scientists and organizations. It represents their view of the current global tension. Indeed, the atmosphere is extremely tense, and the number of active conflicts worldwide is unprecedented. So, of course, there are reasons for concern," he stated.

Regarding recent remarks by American journalist Tucker Carlson about an alleged assassination attempt on President Vladimir Putin, Peskov declined to comment, citing a lack of evidence.

"We are not entirely sure what Carlson meant. He did not provide any proof, so I cannot comment on his claim, as it remains unclear. In general, one should be cautious about accepting unsubstantiated information, regardless of its source," he said.

Turning to the ongoing protests in Serbia, Peskov stated that Belgrade had not sought Moscow’s support and was capable of handling the situation independently.

"Serbia is a country dear to Russia. We highly value our friendship with Belgrade and hope it resolves its issues as soon as possible," he noted.

On the European Union’s discussions about new sanctions against Russia, Peskov said it was premature to comment before any official decision was made.

"We are monitoring the situation closely, but until the measures are formally adopted, it would be difficult to provide comments or forecasts. Russia is actively working to mitigate the impact of Western sanctions on the domestic energy market," he said.