Qatar’s Emir Tells Putin Syria’s New Leader Seeks Closer Ties with Russia

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani informed Russian President Vladimir Putin during talks in Moscow on Thursday that Syria’s new leader, interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa, is eager to strengthen relations with Russia, Al Jazeera reports.

The discussion comes after the removal of former President Bashar al-Assad, a long-time ally of Moscow.

“As for Syria, a few days ago President al-Sharaa was in Qatar, and we spoke with him about the historical and strategic relationship between Syria and Russia,” Al Thani told Putin.

These talks take place as Putin seeks to maintain Russia’s access to its two military bases in Syria, essential for preserving its regional influence. Al-Assad fled the country in December as opposition fighters, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, approached the capital.

Putin emphasized the significance of the situation in Syria, noting the sectarian violence of recent weeks. “We would like to do everything to ensure that Syria, firstly, remains a sovereign, independent and territorially integral state, and we would like to discuss with you the possibility of providing assistance to the Syrian people, including humanitarian assistance,” the Kremlin leader stated.

Beyond Syria, the two leaders also addressed the situation in Gaza. Qatar played a crucial mediating role in brokering a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in January, which outlined a three-phase cessation of hostilities. However, Israel resumed its offensive in the besieged enclave in March, and subsequent negotiations aimed at restoring the ceasefire have yet to achieve a breakthrough.

“We reached an agreement regarding Gaza a few months back, but Israel has not adhered to the agreement,” Al Thani said, adding that “Qatar, in its role as a mediator, will strive to bridge differing perspectives in an effort to reach an agreement to end the suffering of the Palestinian people.”

Putin acknowledged Qatar’s efforts, stating, “We know that Qatar is making very serious efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Unfortunately, the initiatives put forward, including by you, have not been implemented. Peaceful people continue to die in Palestine, which is an absolute tragedy of today.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Interfax that while the war in Ukraine was not substantively discussed, Putin expressed gratitude for Qatar’s assistance in facilitating the return of children from both countries who were separated from their parents during the conflict.