Putin tells Syria's Sharaa at start of Moscow talks that Russia is ready for stronger ties

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday congratulated Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the fact that parliamentary elections were held earlier this month and said Moscow was ready for stronger ties with Damascus. Putin made the comments at the start of a meeting with Sharaa in the Kremlin.

The visit to the Russian capital is Sharaa's first since coming to power after he toppled Moscow's ally Bashar al-Assad late last year.