Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia considers Syria a long-standing and reliable friend during a meeting with his Syrian counterpart, Asaad al-Shibani, Komsomolskaya Pravda and RIA Novosti reported on July 31.

"Our position in favour of developing cooperation with the Syrian Arab Republic is consistent. We are aimed at strengthening mutually beneficial ties between our peoples," Lavrov said during the meeting.

Russia’s position on the new Turkish-backed Syrian regime of Ahmed al-Sharaa comes after months of negotiations between the two sides to allow Russia to keep its military base in Tartus on the eastern Mediterranean coast.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani noted that Syria strives to develop strong cooperation with Russia, emphasising that Damascus is interested in strengthening partnership with Moscow on the basis of mutual benefit.

Lavrov added that Moscow intends to support the Syrian people in overcoming difficulties and restoring stability in the country, whilst noting successes of Syrian authorities in ensuring security and sustainable functioning of state structures.

Russia has never supported Western sanctions against Syria, with their removal representing movement in the right direction, Lavrov stated at a press conference following negotiations with the Syrian foreign minister.

"We have never supported such decisions by the West, we did not allow any sanctions to be promoted in the UN Security Council. Now our American and European colleagues are gradually beginning to phase out some sanctions. This is movement in the right direction," Lavrov said.

The Russian foreign minister noted that Moscow advocates the complete cancellation of sanctions against Syria, stating that they caused harm exclusively to the Syrian people rather than the political figures against whom they were allegedly introduced.

"We believe it is necessary to simply cancel these sanctions once and for all. They caused harm exclusively to the Syrian people, not to those political figures against whom, as we were told, they were introduced," Lavrov emphasised.

"We are ready to provide the Syrian people with possible assistance in post-conflict reconstruction. We agreed that we will continue the dialogue on these issues," the minister said.