Syria’s newly appointed Foreign Minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, has expressed hopes for “strategic partnerships” with Ukraine.
Drawing parallels between Syria’s 2011-2024 war and Russia’s seizure of Ukrainian territory in 2014 and culminating in its full-scale 2022 invasion, he told his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, “Certainly the Syrian people and the Ukrainian people have the same experience and the same suffering that we endured over 14 years.”
This came as Sybiha arrived in Syria on Monday, December 30, 2024, for an unannounced visit.
Syria’s de facto new leader and Head of the Islamist group; Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Ahmed al-Sharaa and other officials held talks with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister in one of the most consequential visits since the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
At a news conference after his Ukrainian delegation met the Syrian leaders, Sybiha said, “We look forward to mutual recognition of the sovereignty of the two countries so that we can complete diplomatic representation in Syria.”
He expressed belief that Ukrainian-Syrian relations will witness great development.
Ukraine, which has been battling invading Russian forces for nearly three years, said that it wants to restore relations with Syria. “The Russian and Assad regimes supported each other because they were based on violence and torture,” Sybiha said, according to a statement.
“We believe that from a strategic point of view, the removal of Russia’s presence in Syria will contribute to the stability of not only the Syrian state but the entire Middle East and Africa.
“We rely on the new Syria respecting international law, including Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. This will pave the way to fully restoring our diplomatic ties, political dialogue, and diplomatic presence. We are ready to develop cooperation in a number of areas.”
Andrii Sybiha
Ukraine Poised To Provide More Humanitarian Aid To Syria
The visit comes after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday, December 27, 2024, that his country had sent its first batch of food aid, 500 tonnes of wheat flour, to Syria.
Despite its war with Russia, Ukraine remains one of the world’s top wheat producers.
Sybiha asserted that Ukraine will remain a “linchpin to food security in Syria, even if our country is engaged in a war.”
Russia had been providing wheat to Syria through intricate financial and logistical mechanisms designed to bypass Western sanctions on both Moscow and Damascus.
However, according to a report by a news agency, these shipments have been halted due to uncertainty surrounding the new government in Damascus and delays in payments.
Also at the joint briefing in Damascus with his Syrian counterpart, Sybiha disclosed that Ukraine is prepared to offer more humanitarian aid to Syria and resume education opportunities for Syrian students, while expecting the new Syrian government to respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
“I am here to deliver a personal message from President Volodymyr Zelensky to the Syrian people: We stand with you. We are ready to support the Syrian people because Ukraine is interested in a stable Syria and in fostering mutually beneficial cooperation.”
Andrii Sybiha
He announced that over 20 trucks carrying 500 tons of Ukrainian flour will arrive in Syria tomorrow as part of the humanitarian initiative “Grain from Ukraine.”
He also expressed readiness to deliver significantly more free humanitarian aid.
Sybiha highlighted the presence of Ukraine’s Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, Vitalii Koval, in the delegation, underlining Kyiv’s serious intent to deepen cooperation in the agricultural sector. “This serves as a symbolic contrast: while Russia has sent bombs, death, and destruction to Syria, Ukraine delivers flour – offering life, hope, and the promise of renewal,” Sybiha added.
