Russia Emphasizes the Necessity of Protecting Its Interests in Syria through Direct Dialogue with Damascus

The Kremlin has affirmed that Russia has "special interests" in Syria that require guarantees through direct understanding with the current Syrian authorities, emphasizing the importance of dealing with the actual leadership of the country to maintain the stability of those interests in the future.

This came during statements made by the Kremlin's official spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, to "Russia Today" channel, where he pointed out that the developments in Syria resulted from internal and external factors, describing the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime as a "fall of a giant with feet of clay," indicating the fragility of the structure on which the previous regime was based.

Peskov explained that Moscow sees the current stage as requiring establishing practical relations with the key players in Damascus, confirming that this approach is necessary to ensure the continuity of the Russian role, especially at the military and strategic levels.

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov confirmed that communications with the Syrian government have not ceased, indicating that there have been "no fundamental changes in the current situation so far." He added that his country expects, "based on logic and mutual responsibility," to preserve its vital interests, including its military facilities that serve as an extension of its regional influence.

It is worth noting that Russia maintains two main military bases in Syria: the naval base in Tartus, dating back to the 1971 agreement, and the Hmeimim airbase, established by Moscow in September 2015 to support the Assad regime, and has since then been a key pillar of Russian military presence in the region.