Russia's top diplomat has met with Syria's new foreign minister for talks in Moscow during the first formal visit by a Syrian official since President Bashar Assad was ousted last year despite years o

In his first official visit to Moscow following the major political transition in Damascus and the fall of former President Bashar Assad’s regime, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani has embarked on what has been described as a “critical round of talks” with his Russian counterpart,

Despite having been on opposite sides of the battle lines during the civil war, the new rulers in Damascus, headed by interim President Ahmed al-Sharra, have taken a pragmatic approach to relations with Moscow.