Ukraine's foreign minister meets with new Syrian leader in Damascus
A Ukrainian delegation headed by Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha is currently in Syria and has met with the de facto leader of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Source: Syrian television; Al Arabiya, a Saudi state-owned international Arabic news television channel; Interfax-Ukraine
Details: Reports indicate that the high-level Ukrainian delegation, in addition to the official spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, consists of Ukraine's agriculture minister and a special representative of the Ukrainian president.
Update: During his visit, Sybiha conveyed a message of support for the Syrian people from Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "I am here to personally convey a message from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the Syrian people, which sounds very clear: we are with you, we are ready to help the Syrian people. Ukraine is interested in a stable Syria and the development of mutually beneficial cooperation," he said.
For reference: The regime of Bashar al-Assad had ruled Syria for 53 years before collapsing following a 12-day offensive by rebels, led by the Islamist militant group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The offensive ended with the capture of Damascus on 8 December. Hadi al-Bahra, head of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, announced plans to form a civilian government. Mohammed al-Bashir became Syria's new acting Prime Minister. Ousted President Bashar al-Assad and his family were granted asylum in Moscow.
Background:
- On 23 December, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed Ukraine's Foreign Ministry to establish all necessary contacts with representatives of the people of Syria and rectify Assad's mistakes.
- On 27 December, Ukraine shipped 500 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat flour to Syria as part of the Grain from Ukraine programme.
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