00:00Doubt about the use of key military bases in the Middle East.
00:03A warm welcome to the Ukrainian president from a traditional European ally.
00:09An unprecedented display of defiance by the leader of a former Soviet republic.
00:15The past few weeks have dealt blow after blow to the Kremlin's hopes of maintaining its global influence.
00:22"As the war in Ukraine continues," writes The Times.
00:25The publication reported that Syria announced the closure of the Russian air base at Khmeimim and the naval base at Tartus.
00:31They would no longer be under Moscow's exclusive control,
00:34and that these military installations would become joint training centers.
00:40These were Russia's only official military bases outside the territory of the former Soviet Union.
00:46The article notes that this occurred after Bashar al-Assad, a key Kremlin ally,
00:51He was overthrown in 2024 by rebel forces and replaced as president of Syria by Ahmed al-Sharaa,
00:58a commander of an Islamist-oriented rebel movement.
01:02Although the Russian army supported Assad for nine years, causing the deaths of thousands of Syrian rebels and civilians,
01:10Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops not to intervene as the rebels advanced toward Damascus.
01:16Syria described the agreement on bases in the Eastern Mediterranean as a
01:22"Reorganization of the Russian presence," which would pave the way for a "new stage" in Syrian-Russian relations.
01:30Although Syria stressed that the agreement was made with Moscow and would guarantee the protection of mutual interests,
01:37He indicated that the civilian facilities of both bases would be handed over to Damascus.
01:41Ana Note, an expert on Russian foreign policy and the Middle East,
01:46He noted the likelihood that Russia could use Syrian bases for military purposes in the future.
01:52It is decreasing, although it should not be completely ruled out.
01:56Russia is very cautious about how far Shara will actually be able to stay in power.
02:03and stabilize the situation in Syria.
02:06"Russia is probably thinking, 'Let's see what Syria will be like in five or ten years.'"
02:12"We'll just wait and see what happens," he said.
02:16Russia has used its bases in Syria to channel supplies and fighters to the Africa Corps,
02:23the successor to the Kremlin-controlled Wagner mercenary group in Libya and Mali,
02:29the Central African Republic and other parts of the continent.
02:33The agreement stipulates that Moscow will retain limited rights to refuel military aircraft at the Khmeinin air base,
02:41But beyond that, Russia has little reason for optimism.
02:45according to Mikita Smagin, an expert on Iranian affairs and Russian policy in the Middle East.
02:52The new Syrian authorities are gradually pushing Russia out of the country.
02:57At some foreseeable point, they will want to get rid of the Russian presence.
03:01"It's simply not going to happen overnight."
03:05The Syrian authorities are acting in a rather pragmatic manner
03:09And I would even say with enough skill to avoid damaging relations with Russia.
03:14"During this difficult and still unstable transition period," he noted.
03:20Russia has also lost influence in the South Caucasus,
03:23where Armenia and Azerbaijan, both former Soviet republics,
03:28They are now moving away from the Kremlin's sphere of influence.
03:32The article adds that other traditional allies are sending worrying signals to the Kremlin.
03:38In particular, Serbia, one of the few European countries that has not imposed sanctions on Moscow for its invasion of
03:45Ukraine,
03:46He received Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week on his first visit since the 2022 invasion.
03:54A Ukrainian official described the talks between Zelensky and President Vucic
04:00as a "slap in the face" to Putin and part of an effort to "push the Serbs away" from the Kremlin.
04:06The publication noted that Zelensky's trip to Belgrade took place after the Kazakh president
04:13Kassin Yomart Tokayev told Putin directly that the time had come for Russia to put an end to the
04:20hostilities in Ukraine.
04:21"It is a shame that young people are dying," Tokayev said during the talks in the Siberian city of Omsk.
04:28The publication noted that Putin, who repeatedly mispronounces Tokayev's surname during negotiations,
04:36He seemed bewildered when the Kazakh leader made this appeal.
04:40"Putin has turned to North Korea for help related to the war in Ukraine."
04:45and could become even more dependent on Pyongyang.
04:48The decision has been made to deploy between 30,000 and 50,000 North Koreans to Russia.
04:53"They are studying this war," Zelensky declared on social media over the weekend.
04:59Didn't he suggest that, while the weakening of Russian influence might be welcomed by Western countries,
05:06Will this likely make Putin even more determined to achieve Russia's objectives in Ukraine?
05:11Thank you!
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