Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv is making preparations to reestablish ties with Syria after a diplomatic mission led by Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha visited Damascus to meet with the Middle Eastern country's new leadership.
The Ukrainian delegation met with Syria's de facto leader Ahmad al-Sharaa and other interim government figures on December 30 after the Russia-backed administration of ousted President Bashar al-Assad was toppled earlier this month.
"We are preparing to restore diplomatic relations with Syria and the interaction with international organizations. I would like to thank our intelligence for securing the basis for these contacts as a result of the visit," Zelenskiy said in a video on social media on January 2.
The rebels who ousted Assad were led by Sharaa's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Islamist group, a U.S. and EU-designated terrorist organization.
Sharaa has publicly pledged to adopt moderate policies regarding women's rights, national reconciliation, and relations with the international community, although world leaders say they remain wary of the new rulers pending concrete actions.
Ukraine has moved quickly to establish a line of communication with the new Syrian leaders saying it is interested in stabilizing the situation and believes it is essential for Syria's security to remove any Russian presence from the country.
Zelenskiy announced earlier this week that Ukraine had delivered 500 tons of wheat flour to Syria as part of its "Grain from Ukraine" initiative.
Russia granted Assad and his family asylum earlier this month after they fled Damascus on December 8.
Kremlin aides have said Moscow is in contact with Syria's new administration at both a diplomatic and military level. Russia is concerned, in particular, about the fate of a naval facility and an air base it operates in the country.
Several media outlets, including The Washington Post, have reported that Syrian fighters received about 150 drones as well as other covert support from Ukrainian intelligence operatives ahead of their lightning advance through the country that culminated in the toppling of Assad.
