Wall Street Journal: Secret negotiations between Russia and Syria include investments and military agreements
The Wall Street Journal reported, citing European and Syrian officials, that secret negotiations took place between Moscow and the Syrian administration, which included discussing the payment of billions of dollars in cash from Russia to Syria.
The negotiations included an agreement to maintain Russian military bases in Syria, amid Moscow’s rejection of the new Syrian administration’s request to hand over Bashar al Assad.
The parties discussed Russian investments in gas fields and ports, as well as contracts covering phosphate mines and hydrocarbon fields in the Palmyra area.
According to the sources, Damascus expressed optimism after Putin indicated his readiness to discuss the terms of the agreements between the two countries.
The negotiations also included discussing a possible apology from Russia for bombing civilians during previous military operations.
On the other hand, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Syrian counterpart Ahmad al-Sharaa has not yet been scheduled.
Peskov explained to reporters that “there are no plans to hold such a meeting at the present time”.
It’s worth noting that the two presidents held a phone call on February 12, weeks after al Sharaa assumed the presidency of Syria on January 29.
During that call, al Sharaa stressed Syria’s openness to all parties in a way that serves the interests of the Syrian people and enhances security and stability in the country.
Moscow was the main supporter of the former Syrian regime led by Bashar al Assad throughout his quarter-century rule.
After supporting his regime diplomatically in the UN Security Council after the outbreak of the conflict in 2011, Russia intervened militarily in 2015 and contributed to changing the balance of power in his favor on several fronts through airstrikes.
In late January, an official Russian delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov visited Damascus for the first time since the fall of Assad, and affirmed Russia’s support for Syria’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
