Syria’s self-declared President Ahmad al-Sharaa is in Moscow on Wednesday, where he has met with President Vladimir Putin, at a moment when Russia’s long-running presence in Syria is in question. “Russia has supported Syria’s territorial integrity and unity, and has also played a historic role in the stability of the region,” President Putin stated during the meeting. “I would like to emphasise the need to preserve Syria’s unity and territorial integrity.”He hinted that ending the American occupation of the oil and gas-rich northeast is paramount. Conflict has been engulfing the same region, as Syrian forces loyal to Sharaa attack Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces. But there has been a military and equipment drawdown, and now the Russian operations are said to be ‘humanitarian-focused’.