Qatar’s Emir Affirms New Syrian Leadership’s Desire for Strong Ties with Russia in Kremlin Meeting

Moscow, April 17 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on Thursday, where he conveyed that Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is committed to establishing a strong bilateral relationship with Moscow following the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December.

The assurance from the Qatari emir comes at a critical moment for Russia, which seeks to retain strategic influence in Syria, including continued access to its two military bases in the country. Assad’s ousting by rebel forces has reshaped the geopolitical dynamics in the region.

“As for Syria, a few days ago President al-Sharaa was in Qatar, and we spoke with him about the historical and strategic relationship between Syria and Russia. He is keen on building a relationship between the two countries based on mutual respect,” Sheikh Tamim said, according to remarks reported by Reuters.

President Putin emphasized the importance of maintaining Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity amid continuing sectarian violence. “We would like to do everything to ensure that Syria, firstly, remains a sovereign, independent and territorially integral state, and we would like to discuss with you the possibility of providing assistance to the Syrian people, including humanitarian assistance,” Putin stated.

The two leaders also addressed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Sheikh Tamim reiterated Qatar’s commitment to mediating peace efforts between Israel and Hamas. “We reached an agreement regarding Gaza a few months back but Israel has not adhered to the agreement,” the emir said. “Qatar, in its role as a mediator, will strive to bridge differing perspectives in an effort to end the suffering of the Palestinian people.”

Putin acknowledged Qatar’s role in facilitating negotiations in the region, noting, “We know that Qatar is making very serious efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Unfortunately, the initiatives put forward, including by you, have not been implemented—peaceful people continue to die in Palestine, which is an absolute tragedy of today.”

In addition, both sides confirmed that the meeting would also include discussions on the ongoing war in Ukraine. Qatar has played an active diplomatic role, including helping reunite children separated from their families during the conflict. Moscow, however, has indicated that negotiating a lasting settlement remains challenging.

According to Reuters, U.S. President Donald Trump has continued to call for an end to the conflict in Ukraine, describing it as a “bloodbath,” though no diplomatic breakthrough has yet been achieved.