Ukraine’s Zelensky imposes sanctions on Syrian government
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – According to TASS, Russia’s state news agency, Ukraine’s President, Vlodoymyr Zelensky imposed a number of sanctions against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and other high-ranking members of his government.
The decree, published on Saturday, March 18, applies to 300 individuals and 141 legal entities, and includes al-Assad, as well as Syria’s foreign and prime ministers.
According to TASS, measures mentioned by the decree include “freezing of assets, restrictions on trade and transit of resources, a ban on participation in privatization in Ukraine, the suspension of economic and financial obligations, and revocation of Ukrainian state awards.”
Al-Assad has been one of very few staunch allies of Russia’s embattled president, Vladimir Putin, since he launched an invasion of Ukraine early last year. Together with North Korea, Syria is the only country that has acknowledged Russia’s annexation of the four eastern regions of Ukraine currently occupied by Russian forces.
Assad met Putin in Moscow on Thursday in the most public meeting between the two heads of state since the beginning of the Syrian War. Russia has been an important ally to the Syrian government throughout the past decade. Russian airstrikes are thought to have been critical for government forces to reclaim cities and towns captured by the opposition.
It is questionable what impact, if any, the sanctions will have on Syria’s government, as it is unlikely to hold any capital or properties in Ukraine.