Middle East
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani (left) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (right) in Antalya on April 12, 2025. Photo: Kurdistan Region Presidency
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey.
“The two leaders discussed Russia's relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, especially in the economic field, and exchanged views on the general situation in Iraq and the region and current political and security developments,” read a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency.
“Both sides stressed that they attach great importance to relations between the Russian Federation, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and reaffirmed their mutual desire to expand joint cooperation in various fields,” it added.
Iraq and the Kurdistan Region share long-standing ties with Russia, including economic ones. Russian oil companies Lukoil, Gazprom Neft, and Rosneft operate in the country.
It was a good opportunity to meet with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov today in Antalya. We discussed regional developments and the state of cooperation between the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and Russia. pic.twitter.com/oEOiBurF1v
— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) April 12, 2025
They also discussed the situation in Syria, according to the presidency.
Ahead of the forum, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said that regional issues, especially developments in Syria, would be a focus for Lavrov in his meetings.
“Russia attaches particular importance to cooperation with Türkiye on Syria, given Ankara’s traditionally deep involvement in Syrian affairs. Russia steadfastly advocates for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Syria and is committed to joint efforts to stabilise the situation in the country, taking into account new realities,” read a statement from the ministry.
Russia was a firm backer of Syria’s ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad, who was deposed by a rebel offensive backed by Turkey.
Moscow has, in the past, served as a mediator between Turkey and Kurdish forces in northeast Syria who Ankara considers a security threat. The Kurdish forces are now in negotiations with the new authorities in Damascus about their future in the country. Barzani met with Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Antalya on Friday.
Barzani also met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday.
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