fazTimes media: Asaad al-Shaibani, Syria's foreign minister, went to Moscow on Thursday as part of a big diplomatic initiative. This was the first time a member of Syria's new government had officially visited since last year's removal of the previous president, Bashar al-Assad. Al-Shaibani told Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, that Syria wants Russia's help while the country rebuilds and makes reforms to its internal affairs following the war.

A New Beginning for Syria and Russia

Russia was the main foreign supporter of the Assad government for almost fifteen years. Moscow's military support was crucial starting in 2011, and it helped Assad stay in power even though many people were against him. Russia didn't get involved again after opposition parties took over Damascus late last year. Assad went to Moscow, but now he says he had to depart.

The new government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, is being fair with Russia, even though they worked together throughout the conflict. The trip to Russia is part of a wider plan to strengthen their relationship while still reaching their major aims. I interpret the gesture as a message of collaboration. "We want Russia to be with us on this journey," he said, adding that any future partnership should be built on respect for each other.

He also requested that Russia assist Syria in moving toward justice by reviewing earlier agreements between the two countries. A group in Damascus is looking into old accords, notably those struck when Assad was president.

Russia has once again proved that it strongly supports Syria's independence and has offered to help reconstruct the country after the war. Lavrov complimented the Syrian government for keeping Russian civilians and military bases safe in Syria, such as those in Khmeimim and Tartus. He also asked President al-Sharaa to come to a meeting between Russia and the Arab League in Moscow on October 15.

Lavrov said that agreements struck during Assad's reign, like those about military bases and oil delivery, will be looked at to see if they are still beneficial for Syria. He also asked the world to lift the sanctions against Syria.

What Damascus and Moscow have at stake

Working with Russia provides some benefits for Syria's new government: Russia keeps delivering oil to Syria, which helps the economy and gives them energy. Al-Sharaa and Lavrov both emphasized that it's vital to protect against pressure from the region, such as strikes from Israel on Syrian land. To keep its only foreign military base, Russia wants to stay in touch with Syria.

Syria's new transitional administration has been trying to get other countries to recognize it since Assad fell in December 2024. Al-Sharaa and al-Shaibani went to Gulf countries, Turkey, and Europe to talk to leaders and gain help from the area. In February 2025, they also convened a giant assembly called the Syrian National Dialogue Conference.

The goal of this gathering was to make revisions to the country's laws, fix things that had gone wrong in the past, and reorganize the government. Some people said that these efforts were beneficial, but not everyone was included. For example, the Kurds and civil society organizations were not effectively represented. They were not effectively represented in the talks.

Problems Ahead

Russia says it's necessary to bring people together, keep all areas safe, and have fair and open elections.

In a strategic maneuver, Damascus is not only seeking support from Russia but also from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkey, and Western countries.

This indicates that the leaders are attempting not to depend too much on one country. Syria wants aid in reconstructing the country, getting out of debt, and being considered a respectable role in the area. They don't want to go back to a rigid, authoritarian system with Russia.

Trust between Syria and Russia remains somewhat fragile, however. Al-Shaibani's comment about reviewing past Syria-Russia deals suggested a shift from total agreement to partial agreement.

What This Means for People Who Live Here

The trip to Moscow illustrates that Syrians in their nation need something and that their view of Russia has changed. Syria needs money and official help from other countries to rebuild, and Russia might help with that. However, many Syrians still recall the difficulties that arose when Russia previously intervened. So, any new hopes must be backed up by clear and honest acts.

Some crucial questions will be asked in the following few months:

Will Russia keep its troops in Syria?

Is it possible for the government in Damascus to amend or renegotiate the obligations and deals it has with Russia?

How will the new government make sure that everyone, even minorities, is treated fairly and kept safe?

In conclusion, according to BBC News, this visit represents a new chapter in Syria's relationship with Russia, which is based on a more considered approach rather than prior allegiance.

This trip to Moscow is considered an important step because the transitional government is starting to visit other nations. For example, it plans to meet with Russia and the Arab League in October. It could help determine Syria's place in the Middle East, which is constantly changing.

For those back home, it's a reminder that wars in other parts of the world can transform how power works throughout the world.

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