Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.
“Putin emphasized the importance of supporting the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic and reinforcing its internal political stability by respecting the legitimate rights and interests of all ethnic and confessional communities,” the Kremlin said, according to Russia’s RT.
Also, it said that “in light of the recent escalation between Iran and Israel, the Russian side expressed its willingness to facilitate in every possible way the search for negotiated solutions to the Iran’s nuclear program issue.”
The Kremlin spokesperson said the two leaders agreed to continue their dialogue on pressing international and bilateral matters.
Monday’s call between Putin and Netanyahu is the second in a week. On July 28, the two leaders had discussed Syria and various aspects of the tense situation in the Middle East.
Putin had also stressed the importance of upholding Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity and restated Russia's readiness to help negotiate a solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.
Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with Syria's foreign minister Asaad al-Shibani in Moscow on Thursday, the first visit by a top official from Syria's new government since the toppling of Bashar al-Assad in December.
Lavrov said Moscow would like Syria's new President Ahmed al-Sharaa to attend a summit between Russia and Arab League member states in Moscow in October.
Putin received Shibani and his accompanying delegation at the Kremlin, Syria's state news agency SANA reported.
At a joint news conference, Shibani said his trip to Moscow was intended "to start a necessary discussion ... based on the lessons of the past, to formulate the future.”
He said he had agreed with Lavrov on establishing two committees tasked with re-evaluating past agreements between Syria and Russia.
"There are many opportunities for a united strong Syria, we hope Russia stands with us on this pathway," Shibani said.
