The Ukrainian Foreign Minister travels to Syria to advance a new phase of diplomatic relations

MADRID Dec. 30 () –

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andri Sibiga, traveled this Monday on an unannounced visit to Damascus, the capital of Syria, where he met with representatives of the new transitional government, including jihadist leader Ahmed Hussein al Shara. , to whom he has conveyed kyiv’s support.

Sibiga has stated that Ukraine and Syria share “the suffering” caused by “unjust regimes” and has denounced Russia’s participation in the “atrocities” committed by Bashar al Assad.

Likewise, he is confident that relations will advance to the next level once the “mutual recognition of sovereignty” of both countries is sealed in order to complete kyiv’s diplomatic representation in Damascus, according to Syria TV.

Sibiga has led a large delegation in which the Minister of Agriculture, Vitali Koval, is also present. Last Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the delivery of 500 tons of wheat flour to Syria.

The arrival of the first batch is scheduled for this week, said Sibiga, who estimated that more than 167,000 Syrians will benefit from these deliveries, in a subsequent press conference with his counterpart Hasan al Shibani.

“We are with you and we are ready to help the Syrian people, because Ukraine is interested in a stable Syria and in the development of mutually beneficial cooperation,” said the Ukrainian Foreign Minister.

After the fall of Al Assad, Zelensky instructed the Foreign Ministry to initiate the first contacts with the current administration. kyiv has made resuming diplomatic relations conditional on Damascus’ recognition of “the violation of territorial integrity” committed by Russia during the war.

“We count on the new Syria to become a state that will respect international law and in particular the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. This will pave the way for restoring diplomatic relations, political dialogue and the work of institutions,” he said. voiced.

In that sense, he has been convinced of the need to “eliminate the Russian presence in Syria” not only for the good of that country, but also for the good of the stability of the Middle East and Africa.