Zelensky says Ukraine, Syria restore diplomatic ties after Assad’s fall
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Wednesday that Ukraine and Syria have officially restored diplomatic relations, following a meeting with Syrian Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Zelensky confirmed the step in a post on X, saying both governments signed a Joint Communiqué on the restoration of ties. He added that he and al-Sharaa discussed opportunities for cooperation and shared security threats.
“We welcome this important step and are ready to support the Syrian people on their path to stability,” Zelensky wrote. “We agreed to build our relations on the basis of mutual respect and trust.”
This marks the first rapprochement between the two governments since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Ukraine had severed ties with Damascus in June 2022 after the Assad government recognized the Russian-occupied regions of Lugansk and Donetsk as “independent.”
The resumption of relations follows a visit earlier this year by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to Damascus, where he met with members of Syria’s transitional government.
In 2015, Russia deployed troops to Syria to support the Assad regime against armed opposition groups. Moscow’s forces were later accused by the UN and other organizations of committing war crimes during the conflict. Following Assad’s ouster, Russia granted asylum to the former president and his family.