Russia's Lavrov says new Syria's head called relations with Russia long standing and strategic

MOSCOW, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday that the new ruler of Syria had called relations with Russia long standing and strategic and that Moscow shared this assessment.

Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said on Monday that Russia was in contact with Syria's new administration at both a diplomatic and military level.

(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov and Vladimir Soldatkin; Writing by Anastasia Teterevleva; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)

((moscow.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com;))