Vladimir Putin says “much has been accomplished” in restoring Russia-Syria ties

Syria and Russia concluded a memorandum after roughly 18 months of negotiations that will convert the Hmeimim airfield and the Tartus port facility into shared training sites, with civilian sections slated to be transferred to Damascus and the full handover expected within three months. The agreement follows the 2024 removal of Bashar al‑Assad, which reduced Moscow’s regional foothold, prompting Putin to meet Syrian foreign minister Ahmed al‑Sharaa in Moscow earlier this year. During that visit, Putin said substantial progress had been achieved in rebuilding bilateral ties and praised Sharaa’s role in re‑establishing Syria’s territorial cohesion. The arrangement is significant because it secures Russia’s remaining military installations outside the former Soviet bloc while signaling an effort to maintain influence in the war‑torn nation.