KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned on Thursday (Jan 2) he was getting ready to re-establish diplomatic ties with Syria, lower than a month after the overthrow of the Russia-backed authorities in Damascus.
Zelenskyy spoke after a go to to Syria by his International Minister, Andrii Sybiha, and by Agriculture Minister Vitaliy Koval who mentioned earlier Ukraine had already despatched a cargo of meals support.
“We’re getting ready to renew diplomatic relations with Syria and cooperation in worldwide organisations,” Zelenskiy mentioned.
Ukraine minimize diplomatic ties with Syria in June 2022 after the then authorities in Damascus mentioned it recognised the “independence” of the Russia-occupied territories in Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk areas.
Since rebels overthrew Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad final month, Ukraine has been transferring to construct ties with the brand new rulers there. Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022, was a staunch ally of Assad and has given him political asylum.
Kyiv additionally deliberate to extend commerce with Lebanon and at the very least double its agriculture exports from US$400 million, Zelenskyy added.
Zelenskyy beforehand mentioned that Ukraine would ship 500 metric tons of wheat flour to Syria below Kyiv’s humanitarian “Grain from Ukraine” initiative in cooperation with the UN World Meals Programme.
The supply would offer sources for round 167,000 Syrians for a month, Koval mentioned in a televised interview.
He added that the cargo is not going to be the final and that Syria was additionally fascinated by oil, sugar and meat deliveries.
“At the moment, on the degree of presidency dialogue, we clearly perceive that assist must be sustainable and never a one-off, however quite long-lasting and predictable,” Koval mentioned.
Moscow has additionally mentioned it’s in touch with the brand new administration in Damascus, together with over the destiny of Russian navy services in Syria.
