MOSCOW — Russia and Syria are engaged in ongoing negotiations regarding Moscow’s military presence in Syria, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed on Friday.

Speaking at a press briefing in Moscow, Zakharova stated that details of the talks remain confidential due to the sensitive nature of the issue, emphasizing that public scrutiny could harm the progress of discussions.

"We are committed to the steady and active development of Russian-Syrian relations across various fields. Our discussions with the Syrian side focus on clarifying opportunities for bilateral cooperation at this stage, including the issue of Russia’s military presence in Syria," she said.

Turning to the situation in Ukraine, Zakharova reiterated Russia’s demand that the U.S. and Europe halt arms shipments to Kyiv, arguing that these supplies prolong the conflict.

"We are saying that arms shipments must stop—that the continuation of the conflict is directly tied to these ongoing supplies. However, it is still too early to discuss a concrete negotiation process," she said.

Zakharova further accused Ukrainian intelligence of adopting Israeli-style tactics in launching terrorist attacks against Russian military forces.

"Kyiv is trying to replicate the methods of Israel’s special services and intensify terrorist activities against Russian military personnel," she claimed.

Zakharova also issued a warning about NATO’s increasing military presence in the Baltic Sea, claiming that attempts to restrict Russian vessel navigation would disrupt regional security and raise the risk of unintended confrontations.

"The buildup of NATO forces in a region of active maritime traffic will sharply increase the likelihood of unintentional incidents. Additionally, their desire to control trade routes will have a serious impact on international economic relations," she said.

She dismissed NATO’s security claims, asserting that the alliance’s actions are aimed at limiting Russia’s influence in the region and obstructing internal Russian transport links.

"Wherever the NATO flag appears, we can expect a rise in confrontation and tension," she warned.

Zakharova then criticized Moldova’s government for delaying the accreditation of the new Russian ambassador, urging officials in Chisinau to end their "discriminatory stance" against Moscow’s diplomatic mission.

"The presentation of original credentials to the Moldovan president has been postponed for the fifth consecutive month. We hope that the Moldovan leadership will show a degree of civility and reconsider its discriminatory approach toward the Russian ambassador and, by extension, our embassy," she said.

Comparing the treatment of ambassadors in both countries, Zakharova noted that Moldova’s envoy in Moscow was able to present credentials quickly, whereas Russia’s ambassador has faced delays in Chisinau despite multiple diplomatic ceremonies taking place. — Agencies