Syria’s New Leaders Are Talking to Russia, a Former Enemy
President Ahmed al-Shara is making his first trip to Moscow, which backed the regime his rebels overthrew. Both sides have reasons to put the past aside.
President Ahmed al-Shara is making his first trip to Moscow, which backed the regime his rebels overthrew. Both sides have reasons to put the past aside.
President Trump often insists he can bring peace to global conflicts. But when allies and adversaries alike appear to be ignoring him or testing American will, he adopts a what-can-you-do shrug.
The net effect of the Alaska summit was to give President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia a free pass to continue his war against his neighbor indefinitely without further penalty, pending talks on a broader peace deal.
The alliance of emerging economies hopes to offer a counterweight to the United States and other Western powers. But military strikes on Iran are testing its unity.
The apparent impasse came during a roughly hourlong conversation between the leaders on Thursday morning.
The apparent impasse came during a roughly hourlong conversation between the leaders on Thursday morning.
It was the two leaders’ first call since 2022, and the Russian president’s first with any major European leader since last year.
It was the two leaders’ first call since 2022, and the Russian president’s first with any major European leader since last year.