Image credit: EPA
The discussions in Moscow between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad surprised onlookers. The meeting had not been publicized, and Assad’s last trip to Russia was in 2015.
The two leaders discussed Syria’s post-war rebuilding as well as the problem of foreign military involvement. Experts think that the primary reason for the meeting is because the parties want to reduce the weight of Western sanctions on Damascus, according to Nezavisimaya Gazeta.
The need for Western sanctions to be lifted emerged in part because regional actors want to carry out a deal to supply …
