According to Bloomberg, Moscow is negotiating an agreement with Syria's new leadership to retain its strategic bases.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp has called for Russia's military withdrawal from Syria as a key condition for lifting European Union sanctions on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

Speaking ahead of an EU foreign ministers meeting, Veldkamp stressed the need to tie sanctions relief to an inclusive political transition and the removal of Russian forces.

"I think it's too early to lift those sanctions," Veldkamp said. "We really would like to condition that on an inclusive political transition."