Al-Shara jokingly tells Putin "Your stairs were long, but we are athletes".. and widespread interaction on social media

SadaNews - Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara opened his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in the Russian capital yesterday, Wednesday, with a joking remark: "You have a long staircase.. it's good that we play some sports so we can get here without getting tired."

This remark quickly spread across social media platforms, where bloggers and analysts began to dissect its implications and interpret the symbolic and diplomatic messages it carried.

Activists said that President Ahmad al-Shara's statement was not a mere joke, but rather a carefully weighed political symbolic speech that conveyed precise messages to all parties. It successfully combined smart diplomacy and leadership firmness, presenting a confident and mature image of the new Syrian leadership to both the domestic and foreign audiences.

Many viewed al-Shara's remarks as carrying veiled messages that can be summarized in three main axes: the first being a message of self-confidence and capability. Al-Shara indicated that reaching Moscow and dealing with Russia was not a difficult task for him; rather, he affirmed through his words that he is strong, decisive, and ready to face challenges.

This suggests high self-confidence and the ability to withstand difficulties, reflecting an image of a leader who possesses charisma and presence according to some tweeters.

Others saw it as a clever hint for comparison, where al-Shara's remarks included an indirect comparison between the efforts exerted by Russia or its environment and his own ability to adapt and overcome obstacles. Thus, he presents himself as someone who is neither weak nor submissive but capable of overcoming difficulties regardless of their magnitude.

Analysts noted the diplomatic tone that was light-hearted but firm, as al-Shara used sports as a comparison to lighten the conversation while simultaneously conveying a clear message that he stands firmly and cannot be easily exhausted or pressured by major powers, thereby merging smart diplomacy with steadfastness in stance.

Several followers pointed to various aspects reflected through al-Shara's joking exchange with Putin. The phrase: "Russia's stairs were long, but we were athletes, and we managed to reach here without getting tired" served as an opening for a precisely calculated political speech, where selecting the initial words in bilateral meetings serves as a tool to convey deep symbolic messages without direct confrontation or causing embarrassment. President al-Shara employed what is known as "polite symbolic speech,” meaning he spoke the truth in a tactful way that does not provoke hostility.

Bloggers clarified three messages in the content of the speech. First, a message to Russia that strength is not everything, as al-Shara used the image of the "long staircase" as a symbol of the path Moscow has taken in its military intervention in Syria, testing various forms of power and weaponry.

However, those who opposed this intervention today ascend the steps of the Kremlin honored, not pursued.

Those analyzing this noted that the message here is that military might does not change the course of history; rather, will and popular legitimacy shape the future. It was as if al-Shara gently told Putin: "Your stairs were long, but we reached it despite everything... for perhaps weapons were not the shortest path.

Secondly: a message to the Syrian interior that the revolution has not been broken with the phrase "we were athletes," reflecting the spirit of the Syrian revolution: the athlete tires but does not give up, falls then rises, and competes honorably. All these are symbols of the revolution's values of dignity, patience, and determination without hatred. The message: "We were not students of war, but students of freedom."

Finally, a message to the world in which al-Shara intended to convey that the Syrian people hold legitimacy, not terrorism.

Activists interpreted that this statement reshapes the image of the Syrian revolution before the international community, presenting it with maturity, confidence, and the ability to engage in dialogue with major powers without defeat, violence, threats, or hatred. Here, al-Shara’s speech is a language of state and leadership, not the language of a group or opposition, to tell the world: "Here we are in Moscow, not as opponents but as partner leaders."

Some activists also noted that al-Shara's mention of the difficult staircase symbolizes an attempt to exhaust the guests at the Kremlin, but he diplomatically turned it into a symbol of political fitness and strength.

Other tweeters felt that the message al-Shara wanted to convey was clear: "You fought hard to prevent us from arriving, but with our determination (fitness) we finally made it."