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03-01-2025, 06:19 AM
KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday (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.
Zelenskyy spoke after a visit to Syria by his Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, & by Agriculture Minister Vitaliy Koval who said earlier Ukraine had already sent a shipment of food aid. We are preparing to resume diplomatic relations with Syria cooperation in int'l organisations," Zelenskiy said. Ukraine cut diplomatic ties with Syria in June 2022 after govt in Damascus recognised "independence" of Russia-occupied territories in Ukraine's Donetsk & Luhansk regions. Since rebels overthrew Bashar al-Assad last month, Ukraine has been moving to build ties with the new rulers there. Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022, was a staunch ally of 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, Zelenskyy added. The delivery would provide resources for around 167,000 Syrians for a month, 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 govt dialogue, we clearly understand that support should be sustainable and not a one-off, but rather long-lasting and predictable," 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.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/ze...ia-4835251
Zelenskyy spoke after a visit to Syria by his Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, & by Agriculture Minister Vitaliy Koval who said earlier Ukraine had already sent a shipment of food aid. We are preparing to resume diplomatic relations with Syria cooperation in int'l organisations," Zelenskiy said. Ukraine cut diplomatic ties with Syria in June 2022 after govt in Damascus recognised "independence" of Russia-occupied territories in Ukraine's Donetsk & Luhansk regions. Since rebels overthrew Bashar al-Assad last month, Ukraine has been moving to build ties with the new rulers there. Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022, was a staunch ally of 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, Zelenskyy added. The delivery would provide resources for around 167,000 Syrians for a month, 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 govt dialogue, we clearly understand that support should be sustainable and not a one-off, but rather long-lasting and predictable," 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.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/ze...ia-4835251
