Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, stated that Moscow is ready to assist Syria in the reconstruction phase.

Nebenzya added that recent discussions between Russia and Syria confirmed the commitment of both parties to continue building multi-faceted bilateral cooperation based on “traditional principles of friendship and mutual respect.”

This was mentioned in an interview Nebenzya gave to the Russian news agency “RIA Novosti,” published today, Monday, February 10, where he stated that Russia is prepared to provide necessary assistance to Syrians, emphasizing the Syrian people’s ability to “handle challenges without external interference.”

The Russian representative noted that the friendship between Russia and Syria has been “tested over time and is not dependent on the political situation.”

He clarified that Moscow is interested in having all political forces and ethnic and religious groups in the country participate in a comprehensive dialogue that contributes to achieving stability and recovery.

He emphasized the importance of the UN’s role in supporting the political process in Syria within a comprehensive dialogue.

Ongoing discussions

The Syrian Ministry of Defense has expressed its readiness to allow Russia to maintain its air and naval bases on the Syrian coast, provided that any agreements with Moscow serve the interests of the country.

On February 6, the Minister of Defense in the interim Damascus government, Murhaf Abu Qasra, stated that Russia’s position towards the new Syrian government has improved since the fall of the previous regime.

He noted that Damascus is considering Moscow’s demands as part of its “pragmatic” approach to reshaping alliances.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior in the interim Damascus government, Ali Kida, stated on February 4 that cooperation with Russia serves Syrian interests.

He also pointed out that the relationship between the two countries is based on mutual respect for sovereignty.

He added that negotiations regarding Russian bases are ongoing, and results are expected to be announced soon.

In contrast, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov referred to challenges facing the new Syrian authorities, emphasizing the need to enhance national dialogue.

He criticized Western attempts to exclude Russia, China, and Iran from the Syrian settlement, saying, “These attempts cannot be motivated by good intentions; they nonetheless reveal the West’s plans to push its competitors aside.”

The Russian presidential office (Kremlin) announced on February 3 that Russia will continue dialogue with the new Syrian authorities about various issues, including agreements related to Russian military bases in Syria.

A Russian delegation visited Syria at the end of January, and the Russian special envoy for the Middle East, Mikhail Bogdanov, stated that the Syrian interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, chaired discussions with the Russian delegation, describing the meeting as “constructive and practical.”

This visit by the Russian delegation is the first of its kind by Russian officials to Damascus following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and his flight to Moscow on December 8, 2024.

Before the fall of the Syrian regime, the new Syrian administration stated that Russia could be a potential partner in the future.