Syria and Russia vow to ‘redefine’ relations between the two countries

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said he wanted to ‘redefine’ relations with Moscow as Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted him in their first meeting on October 15, 2025 since key Kremlin ally Bashar al-Assad was ousted last year. The Syrian leader was expected to push for Moscow to extradite Assad, who fled there after being toppled, and to discuss the status of Russia’s prized military bases in Syria. FRANCE 24’s Philip Turle looks into what that redefinition might mean.