Syria’s President to Visit Russia in Mid-March

On Monday, the Russian newspaper Vedomosti reported that an unnamed source in the Russian presidency said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will visit Russia in mid-March.

According to experts, Vedomosti indicates that Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin are supposed to discuss bilateral relations and the Ukrainian issue, and the issue of normalizing relations between Damascus and Ankara will also be addressed.

The newspaper's experts indicated that it is also likely that one of the aims of the visit will be to obtain support in the face of the energy crisis and the consequences of the devastating earthquake.

In a related context, Kirill Semyonov, an expert at the Russian International Affairs Council, told Vedomosti that it is important for the parties to develop common approaches, especially since Damascus has begun to maintain active contacts with Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and other Arab countries.

The issue of fuel supplies and attracting investments to Syria is also very important, the expert notes, and therefore, perhaps, the leaders will discuss bilateral trade issues.