Overview

• Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani conveyed that Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, seeks closer relations with Russia following Bashar al-Assad’s ouster.
• Vladimir Putin emphasized Russia’s commitment to preserving Syria’s sovereignty and maintaining its military bases in the region during the discussions.
• The leaders addressed Gaza’s fragile ceasefire, with Al Thani raising concerns about Israel’s failure to adhere to the January truce brokered by Qatar.
• Putin expressed gratitude to Qatar for facilitating the return of children separated during the Ukraine war, though the broader conflict was not substantively discussed.
• Qatar reaffirmed its role as a mediator in Middle East conflicts, aiming to bridge divides to alleviate humanitarian suffering in Gaza and Syria.