Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Presidential Special Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev arrived in Damascus, the first visit by Russian officials to Syria since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s government.
Syria’s new authorities are in talks with Russia over the continued presence of Russian military in Hmeimim and Tartus, according to the defence minister of the transitional government Murhaf Abu Qasra.
Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Sharaa said earlier that Syria did not want the withdrawal of Russian troops. Moscow also refused to leave Syrian military bases.
Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed using the bases to deliver humanitarian aid to Syria. However, last week the government cancelled an agreement with Russian company Stroytransgaz to manage the Tartus port.
