Although this was the first direct conversation between Putin and al-Sharaa, the interim Syrian leader had previously engaged with Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and special presidential envoy Alexander Lavrentyev during a high-profile visit to Damascus in January.

Syria’s Ahmed al-Sharaa and Russia’s Vladimir Putin held their first phone call on Wednesday, which comes at an uncertain time for the former allies.

Russia will likely keep a reduced military presence in Syria, achieving a key objective for President Vladimir Putin after the downfall of the Assad regime he backed, according to people familiar with the matter.

Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa held his first direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week in a call initiated by Moscow, signaling a shift in Syria-Russia relations following the ouster of Bashar Assad.

Russia is reportedly nearing a deal with Syria to maintain a limited military presence in the country after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad's regime, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 17, citing sources familiar with the matter.