Syria supports Russia’s recognition of two separatist republics of Ukraine
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The Syrian Minster of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal Mekdad said on Tuesday, Syria “supports” Russian president Vladimir Putin’s decision to recognize two breakaway regions in the east of Ukraine, and “will cooperate with them” after China and Iran supported that.
Yesterday evening, the Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk, the separatist-held parts of eastern Ukraine, as two breakaway regions, with the Ukraine-Russia crisis at the top of the international scene.
“What the West is doing against Russia at present is similar to what it had done against Syria during the terrorist war,” Mekdad said during Valdai Discussion Club.
Earlier, Saeed Khatibzadeh, the spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry said that NATO’s interference and its provocative moves, led by the US, complicated the situation in the region.
“We follow the issues related to Ukraine closely and call on all concerned parties to control themselves and deal with the disagreements through dialogues and a peaceful solution,” he added.
The same attitude was shown by the UN permanent representative of China, Zhang Jun, said his country welcomes every effort to find a diplomatic solution.
He urged all related parties to continue dialogue, advising and self-control to avoid escalation.
In an emergency session of the UN Security Council yesterday, the US and some West countries refused Putin’s recognition of both republics.
Following Putin’s decision, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said Tuesday, Putin has “shown his true face,” accusing him of wanting to “hold the free world hostage.”
In a statement addressed directly to members of Ukraine’s armed forces, Reznikov said “the Kremlin has taken another step towards the revival of the Soviet Union.”