Ukraine prepares to re-establish diplomatic relations with Syria

According to Reuters news agency, President Zelensky said: "We are preparing to resume diplomatic relations with Syria and cooperate in international organizations."

The announcement comes less than a month after the government of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria was overthrown.

The statement also came after a visit to Syria by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Vitaliy Koval. The two officials said Ukraine had sent food aid to Syria.

Ukraine severed diplomatic relations with Syria in June 2022 after Mr. Assad's government declared recognition of the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in Ukraine.

Since opposition forces toppled President Assad last month, Ukraine has begun to build ties with the new Muslim rulers there.

Earlier, Mr. Zelensky said that Ukraine would send 500 tons of flour to Syria within the framework of the humanitarian initiative “Grain from Ukraine” in cooperation with the United Nations World Food Program.

According to Mr. Koval, this shipment will be enough to feed about 167,000 Syrians for a month. Mr. Koval added that this shipment will not be the last and that Syria has also expressed interest in oil, sugar and meat.

“Today, at the level of government dialogue, we clearly understand that support needs to be sustainable and not just one-time, but long-term and predictable,” Mr. Koval stressed.

For its part, Russia also announced that it is in contact with the new government in Syria, regarding discussions on the fate of Russian military facilities there.

Earlier, according to Al Arabiya on December 29, 2024, Syrian opposition leader Ahmed al-Sharaa noted the deep strategic interests between Russia and Syria. He said: "All of Syria's weapons are of Russian origin, and many power plants are managed by Russian experts... We do not want Russia to leave Syria in the way some people want."