Ukraine and Syria will soon reopen their embassies in Kyiv and Damascus. This was announced by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha after a meeting with his Syrian counterpart Asaad Hasan al-Sheybani.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Restoration of Diplomatic Relations
The head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry emphasized that the decision to open embassies is an important step towards strengthening the partnership between the countries. The parties also discussed logistical issues, particularly the development of trade and maritime routes, which have significant potential for further deepening economic cooperation.
“We agreed to open embassies in Kyiv and Damascus soon – an important step in strengthening our partnership,” noted the Foreign Minister.
Economic Cooperation and Humanitarian Initiatives
Special attention during the negotiations was given to food security issues. Ukraine is ready to contribute to this area, particularly through the initiative “Grain from Ukraine,” aimed at supporting stability in the region. According to Sybiha, since the signing of the Joint Communiqué on the restoration of diplomatic relations, bilateral trade between the countries has already increased ninefold, with prospects for further expansion of cooperation.
The diplomatic mission of the Syrian Arab Republic operated in Ukraine from April 25, 2005, until 2018. Ukraine closed its embassy in response to the crimes of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, and in 2022, it severed diplomatic relations with Syria after that country recognized the so-called “LPR” and “DPR.”
On April 5, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Syria, where he expressed readiness for further cooperation for the sake of security and economic development.
The day before, on April 4, Zelensky was in Istanbul, where he held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and also met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.