Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message to the transitional Syrian President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, expressing his support for steps aimed at stabilizing Syria.

In the message reported by the Russian news agency (TASS) on Thursday, March 20, he stated that he supports efforts to achieve rapid stability in Syria.

TASS reported that the content of the message was conveyed by the press secretary of the Russian President, Dmitry Peskov.

Peskov said, “Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message to Syrian head of state Ahmed al-Sharaa, in which he expressed his support for efforts aimed at achieving rapid stabilization of the situation in the country, serving the interests of ensuring its sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity.”

For its part, the Russian news agency Sputnik reported Peskov as saying that the Russian president sent a message to al-Sharaa in which he expressed his country’s readiness to participate in “practical cooperation.”

Peskov added that “Russia has confirmed its ongoing readiness to develop practical cooperation with the Syrian leadership on the full range of issues on the bilateral agenda to strengthen the traditional friendly Russian-Syrian relations,” according to Sputnik.

On February 17, Putin made a phone call, the first of its kind, to Ahmed al-Sharaa.

The Russian presidential office (the Kremlin) stated at the time that a “deep exchange of views on the current situation in Syria” occurred during the conversation between Putin and al-Sharaa.

Putin reaffirmed his supportive stance on “the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Syrian state” and that his country is ready to continue helping to improve the social and economic situation in Syria, including providing humanitarian assistance.

According to the Kremlin, the two sides agreed to continue communications to develop bilateral cooperation.

Before the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024, the new Syrian administration discussed the potential for Russia to be a future partner.

For its part, the Syrian Ministry of Defense expressed its willingness to allow Russia to retain its air and naval bases on the Syrian coast, provided that any agreements with Moscow serve the interest of the country.

Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra stated on February 6 that Russia’s stance towards the new Syrian government “has improved significantly” since the fall of Assad in December 2024, and that Damascus is considering Moscow’s demands.

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

Russia has intervened since 2015 to support the ousted Assad regime and its army, launching waves of devastating airstrikes on areas previously controlled by the Syrian opposition (now the government), resulting in thousands of civilian deaths and injuries alongside widespread damage to infrastructure.