MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin and 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 longtime Russian ally Bashar al-Assad in December.

The Syrian foreign minister made an unprecedented visit to Russia to discuss the two countries’ future relations post-Assad regime

Syria’s new rulers have decided to take a pragmatic approach, despite Russia’s support for previous president.