Syria's Assad hosts Russian envoy, discusses rapprochement with Turkey

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met in Damascus on Thursday with a Russian delegation headed by the special envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Alexander Lavrentiev.

Talks covered Syrian-Russian strategic relations, and efforts to normalize relations between Damascus and Ankara following a breakdown in those ties in the last ten years. 

Assad confirmed Syria’s support for the Russian position in Ukraine, as Lavrentiev reiterated the belief in Russia’s policies stating that those opposing it, including the United States and its allies, have failed to isolate both Syria and Russia.

According to Syria’s national news agency, Lavrentiev praised the tripartite meeting between Turkey, Syria and Russia, stressing the need to follow up on these meetings at the foreign ministers’ level.