Ukraine Pledges 500 Tons of Flour to Syria, Seeks Strategic Partnerships Under Ahmed al-Sharaa

Dec 30, 2024, 10:24 AM

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met with the new Syrian administration in Damascus, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, marking the first official Ukrainian delegation to visit Syria in years. The visit follows the ouster of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and aims to restore diplomatic ties between the two nations. During the visit, Sybiha conveyed a message of support from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and discussed the possibility of strategic partnerships at political, economic, and social levels. Ukraine pledged to provide 500 tons of flour as free aid to Syria, with the first shipment expected to arrive tomorrow via more than 20 trucks. Additionally, Ukraine committed to sending more food aid shipments to support Syria's food security. The discussions also touched on the mutual recognition of territorial integrity and sovereignty, with Ukraine expressing readiness to restore diplomatic relations if Syria respects these principles. The Syrian Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shibani, expressed hope for strategic partnerships with Ukraine, while also mentioning the intention to restart scientific collaborations.