Zelenskyy: Ukraine prepares to restore diplomatic relations with Syria

Ukraine is preparing to restore diplomatic relations with Syria, where the regime of President Bashar al-Assad was recently overthrown.

Source: Zelenskyy on Telegram

Quote: "This year, we plan to expand our list of reliable partners, including Syria. We are preparing to restore diplomatic relations with Syria and enhance cooperation with international organisations. Additionally, we aim to boost trade with Lebanon. At present, our agricultural exports to Lebanon total just US$400 million, and we are working to at least double that figure."

Details: Following the fall of Assad's regime, Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Ministry stated that this will "significantly weaken the expansionism of Russia, which for years has used the Syrian territory, its resources and people as a foothold to spread its destructive influence in the Middle East".

Quote: "We remind that it is Moscow that prompted the Assad regime to illegally recognise Russia's attempt to annex Crimea, as well as the temporary occupation of parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, forcing Ukraine to break diplomatic relations with Assad’s criminal regime in 2022," Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Ministry stated on 8 December.

Background:

• A Ukrainian delegation led by Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha visited Syria and met with the de facto leader of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Damascus on 30 December.
• Sybiha later said that Ukraine is ready to restore diplomatic relations with Syria and hopes that the new leadership will respect the country's territorial integrity.

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