Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday denied allegations of a Russian defeat in Syria, asserting that Moscow’s objectives in the region had largely been achieved. He also confirmed plans to meet former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Moscow after being ousted earlier this month.
In his first public remarks on the matter, Putin stated that Russia had proposed maintaining its military bases in Syria under the country’s new leadership, emphasizing ongoing discussions with Damascus.
Addressing a U.S. journalist’s inquiry, Putin said he intended to raise the case of missing American journalist Austin Tice with Assad and Syria’s new authorities.
“I haven’t yet met President Assad since his arrival in Moscow, but I plan to do so and will certainly discuss the matter with him,” Putin said.
The Russian leader dismissed Western narratives framing developments in Syria as a setback for Moscow, reiterating Russia’s 2015 intervention aimed at preventing the establishment of a terrorist stronghold.
“You want to portray this as a failure for Russia, but it’s not. We achieved our goal. Syria’s new leadership is now engaging with Europe and the United States. If they were terrorists, why would the West seek dialogue with them? This shows they have changed,” Putin argued.
He highlighted Russia’s willingness to allow other countries to use its airbase and naval base in Syria for delivering humanitarian aid, underscoring Moscow’s continued commitment to the region.
The situation in Syria remains fluid, with global powers closely monitoring the country’s political transition and Russia’s role in shaping its future.
