Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arrived in the Russian capital Moscow on Tuesday, in his first visit outside the country since last month’s devastating earthquake, according to a statement from the Syrian presidency via Telegram.

The statement added that Assad would hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit, alongside a large Syrian ministerial delegation.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin said President Putin will hold talks with al-Assad in Moscow on Wednesday.

“Topical issues of further development of Russian-Syrian cooperation in the political, trade, economic and humanitarian spheres, as well as prospects for a comprehensive settlement of the situation in and around Syria will be discussed,” the Kremlin said in a statement.