Ukraine, Syria agree to restore diplomatic relations

Ukraine and Syria have officially agreed to restore diplomatic relations after years of estrangement, signing a joint communiqué to mark the renewal of ties.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the development on his Telegram channel, calling it an important step forward. “We welcome this important step and are ready to support the Syrian people on their path to stability,” Zelenskyy said.

The Ukrainian leader also held talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, during which the two sides discussed prospective areas of cooperation, common security challenges, and ways to counter them.

“We agreed to build relations on the basis of mutual respect and trust,” Zelenskyy emphasised.

The move signals a new phase in Ukraine–Syria relations, with both governments expressing readiness to deepen cooperation and support regional stability.

Kyiv severed diplomatic ties with Damascus on June 30, 2022, after the then-Bashar al-Assad regime recognised the Russian-occupied regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as “independent.” Relations were only restored following Assad’s overthrow in December 2024. Shortly thereafter, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha travelled to Syria to hold talks with the country’s new leadership.

Russia had intervened militarily in Syria in 2015, backing Assad against various opposition forces. Russian troops in the country were later accused by the United Nations and other international bodies of committing war crimes. After Assad’s removal from power, he and his family fled into exile in Moscow, where they remain.

The new Syrian leadership has sought to re-establish the country’s international standing. President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s address at the UN General Assembly marked the first time in six decades that a Syrian leader attended the summit. Syria’s new UN ambassador, Ibrahim Olabi, described the return as a “historic moment,” highlighting that the new government aims to present a break from the Assad era.

By Vugar Khalilov