Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa visited Moscow on Wednesday for the second time in less than four months, and Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasised his readiness to help the country rebuild its war-battered economy. The talks also were expected to focus on the future of Russian military bases in Syria, a key foothold for Moscow in the Mediterranean. The Syrian and Russian leaders meeting in Moscow on Wednesday. Photo: Kremlin pool via APHe led a swift rebel offensive in December 2024 that ousted former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, who enjoyed Moscow’s support for years as his government fought a devastating civil war. AdvertisementRussia, which in recent years has been focused on the fighting in Ukraine and kept only a small military contingent in Syria, did not try to counter the rebel offensive.