“Andrii Sybiga, among other things, expressed hope for the restoration of diplomatic relations between the countries”, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
According to him, more than 20 trucks will arrive in Syria tomorrow to deliver 500 tons of Ukrainian flour as part of the “Grain from Ukraine” humanitarian program, Kyiv is ready to deliver “many times more”.
“Ukraine remains a guarantor of food security and helps others even in times of war. This is a symbolic contrast. Russia exported bombs, death and destruction to Syria. “Ukraine exports flour, guarantees of life and recovery,” the minister said.
Sybiga also expressed hope for the restoration of diplomatic relations between the countries – they were severed in 2022, when the then Syrian leader Bashar Assad recognized Russia’s attempt to annex Crimea and the temporary occupation of parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
According to the minister, Kyiv is also convinced that in a strategic perspective, the elimination of the Russian presence in Syria will contribute to the stability of not only the Syrian state, but also the entire Middle East and Africa, even if it takes some time.
The Ukrainian delegation held talks with the leadership of the Syrian administration, its leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, as well as Prime Minister Mohamed Al-Bashir and Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Sheibani.
Syria’s new de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, has said he wants to maintain relations with Iran and Russia, but insists any ties must be based on mutual “respect.”
Russia and Iran were Syria’s main allies under President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
In early December, the Assad regime was overthrown in Syria, and power passed to the forces of the rebels, led by the Islamist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Assad and his family, who ruled Syria as a dynasty for more than 50 years, were forced to flee to Russia.