A high-ranking Russian delegation, led by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and the Russian President's Special Representative for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev, arrived in Damascus for the first time since the fall of the Bashar Assad regime, BBC reports.
The new Syrian leadership was represented at the talks by the head of the new interim Government, Ahmed al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani and Health Minister Maher al-Sharaa.
Russia wants to retain control over two major military facilities: the naval port of Tartus and the Khmeimim air base near the city of Latakia. After three hours of talks, the issue remained unresolved. The Russian representative stated that "the situation is complicated" and additional talks are required, the agency writes.
Damascus stressed that "in order to restore relations, it is necessary to correct the mistakes of the past, respect the will of the Syrian people and serve their interests."
Bloomberg, citing a source in Moscow, reported that negotiations with the new Syrian authorities on maintaining Russia's military presence in Syria have reached a deadlock.
According to the agency's interlocutor, two Russian transport ships had to wait several weeks before they were allowed to sail to Tartus to unload military equipment. Activities at the Khmeimim air base are also limited.