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Syria Seeks "Strategic Partnerships" with Ukraine Amid Waning Russian Influence
Syria eyes stronger ties with Ukraine as both nations face similar struggles. New foreign minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani discusses political, economic, and scientific partnerships, while Ukraine sends food aid to support Syria.
ND
by News Desk
2024-12-30
Syria Seeks

Damascus: Syria's newly appointed foreign minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, expressed hopes for "strategic partnerships" with Ukraine during a meeting with Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha on Monday. This development comes as Ukraine seeks to establish ties with Syria’s new Islamist rulers, amid Russia's waning influence in the region.

For years, Russia has been a staunch ally of Syria's ousted President Bashar al-Assad, offering both military support and political asylum. Moscow has stated it is in communication with the current administration in Damascus, particularly regarding the future of Russian military facilities in Syria.

Syria's foreign minister emphasized the shared experiences of the Syrian and Ukrainian people, both enduring prolonged conflicts. He drew a parallel between Syria’s civil war, which has raged since 2011, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. "The Syrian and Ukrainian people have the same experience and the same suffering that we endured over 14 years," al-Shibani remarked.

Ukraine is also offering significant humanitarian assistance to Syria. As part of the "Grain from Ukraine" initiative, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced the shipment of 500 metric tons of wheat flour to Syria in cooperation with the United Nations World Food Programme. This is the first batch of food aid, with 20 more shipments of flour expected to arrive shortly.

Sybiha's visit to Damascus also saw discussions around further humanitarian aid from Ukraine, reinforcing the new cooperative relationship between the two countries.
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