In a move with profound political and strategic implications, Syrian President Ahmad al-Shar’a visited Moscow for his first direct meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin since taking office — carrying with him a heavy portfolio of issues related to bilateral relations, military contracts, and Russia’s role in rebuilding Syria’s infrastructure.

The visit went beyond mere economic or military discussions; it served as a test of both sides’ intentions in the post–Bashar al-Assad era, and it opened the door to a pressing question:

Could Russia actually hand over the former Syrian president?

Ali Jamalo, Sky News Arabia’s analyst on Syrian affairs, said during his appearance on the program “At-Tasi‘a” (The Ninth):

“This visit marks a logical milestone in the long history of Russian-Syrian relations. Russia had bet on the former regime and lost that bet. The new Russian openness toward Damascus is, in fact, an acknowledgment of the failure of its previous gamble.”

Jamalo added that Russia played a positive role in limiting human losses during the difficult years (2015–2024), and contributed to guiding key figures within the military establishment to protect the country and end the internal divisions that had existed around Bashar al-Assad.

The analyst noted that this visit represents the beginning of a new phase, as the Syrian file is now being managed by Maher al-Shar‘a, head of the government committee, in a context that focuses on Syria’s national interests — away from ideological or retaliatory motives — and is based on a balanced diplomacy that engages all parties.