Ukraine’s Commitment to Stabilizing Syria Post-Assad
In a significant development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that Ukraine is poised to play a crucial role in stabilizing the situation in Syria following the anticipated collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. He emphasized that Ukraine will provide essential grain supplies to Syria, a move aimed at fostering cooperation in the region.
Zelenskyy stated, “We are preparing to restore diplomatic relations with Syria and enhance our collaboration within international organizations.” He further elaborated, “We will engage with our European partners and the United States to ensure that the support we provide is as robust as possible.” In his message on Telegram, he highlighted that greater stability in the Middle East would lead to increased peace and trade opportunities for all involved parties.
Moreover, Zelenskyy expressed Ukraine’s ambition to double its trade volume with Lebanon this year, indicating a strategic pivot towards the region. The Ukrainian president outlined the objectives of the “Grain from Ukraine” initiative, which focuses on providing humanitarian support and fostering collaboration with the new government in Damascus, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
This initiative was launched in 2022 in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which significantly impacted global food security. As part of this humanitarian initiative, Ukraine has already dispatched 500 tonnes of wheat flour to Syria. Since the program’s inception, Ukraine has successfully delivered over 221,000 tonnes of agricultural products to various countries across Africa and Asia.
Last week, Zelenskyy remarked on Ukraine’s potential role in restoring stability to Syria after years of Russian intervention. He asserted that this effort would also enhance Ukraine’s pursuit of lasting peace. “Restoring our diplomatic relations and economic cooperation with Syria would be a pivotal step,” he noted. “I genuinely hope that the post-Assad government in Syria will adhere to international law—something that the al-Assad regime was unwilling and unable to do.”
Ukraine is recognized as a major global producer and exporter of grains and oilseeds, and Zelenskyy’s administration has expressed a desire to rekindle relations with Syria, especially after the al-Assad regime faced significant challenges following a rebel uprising. Historically, Kyiv exported agricultural products to the Middle East, but during the al-Assad era, Syria predominantly relied on food imports from Russia.
Despite the complexities of the geopolitical landscape, Moscow remains a staunch ally of al-Assad, having granted him political asylum after he fled Syria in December. As Ukraine seeks to redefine its role in the region, the focus on agricultural exports and humanitarian support could pave the way for a new chapter in its foreign relations.
