Moscow seeks to preserve its remaining military presence as ties with Damascus are rebuilt. MOSCOW: Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for talks in Moscow on Wednesday (Jan 28), as the Kremlin seeks to secure the future of military bases vital for its operations in the Middle East. Russia was a key ally of Sharaa's predecessor Bashar al-Assad during the bloody 14-year Syrian civil war.  His toppling at the hands of Sharaa's rebel forces dealt a major blow to