Zelensky says Ukraine preparing to resume diplomatic ties with Syria

KYIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Jan 2 he was preparing to re-establish diplomatic ties with Syria, less than a month after

the overthrow of the Russia-backed government

in Damascus.

Mr Zelensky spoke after

a visit to Syria

by his foreign minister, Mr Andrii Sybiha, and by Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Vitaliy Koval, who said earlier that Ukraine had already sent a shipment of food aid.

“We are preparing to resume diplomatic relations with Syria and cooperation in international organisations,” Mr Zelensky said.

Ukraine cut diplomatic ties with Syria in June 2022 after the then government in Damascus said it recognised the “independence” of the Russia-occupied territories in Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Since rebels overthrew Syria’s former president Bashar al-Assad in December, Ukraine has been moving to build ties with the new Islamist rulers there.

Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022, was a staunch ally of Dr Assad and has

given him political asylum.

Kyiv also planned to increase trade with Lebanon and at least double its agriculture exports from US$400 million (S$546 million), Mr Zelensky added.

He previously said that

Ukraine would send 500 metric tonnes of wheat flour to Syria

under Kyiv’s humanitarian Grain From Ukraine initiative in cooperation with the UN World Food Programme.

The delivery would provide resources for around 167,000 Syrians for a month, Mr Koval said in a televised interview.

He added that the shipment will not be the last and that Syria was also interested in oil, sugar and meat deliveries.

“Today, at the level of government dialogue, we clearly understand that support should be sustainable and not a one-off, but rather long-lasting and predictable,” Mr Koval said.

Moscow has also said it is in contact with the new administration in Damascus, including over the fate of Russian military facilities in Syria. REUTERS