Ukrainian, Syrian officials discuss cooperation in Damascus

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Ukraine’s foreign and agriculture ministers on Monday met with their Syrian counterparts and the transitional government’s de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, to discuss extending Ukraine’s support for Syria and enhancing agricultural and food cooperation.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha‎ said on X that he “personally conveyed the message of Ukraine’s President @ZelenskyyUa to the Syrian people: we are with you and ready to assist in restoring normal life, stability, and food security.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on X that they “support the Syrian people in overcoming decades of dictatorial rule and restoring stability, security, and normal life in Syria.”

The Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) spearheaded the rebel offensive launched late last month that toppled Assad and ended over five decades of Baathist rule. They formed the transitional government in Damascus, with Mohammed al-Bashir as its prime minister.

HTS leader, Sharaa, better known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, said during a recent interview that Syrians will see progress in their efforts to rebuild the war-torn country within a year.

“There will be strategic partnerships between us and Ukraine on the political, economic and social levels,” said Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani on X.

On Friday, Zelensky announced that Ukraine had sent 500 tonnes of flour to Syria as humanitarian aid, to be distributed to 167,000 people.

“As we promised, the first 500 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat flour are planned to arrive tomorrow. And there will be more deliveries, as well as more mutually beneficial cooperation in many areas,” Zelensky added.

Ukraine is a major exporter of wheat.

Ukraine’s Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, Vitaliy Koval, also met with his Syrian counterpart, Mohammad al-Ahmad.

They “discussed a clear list of goods that their country [Syria] needs,” Koval said, adding that “Syria is interested in technology transfer from Ukraine.”

Koval noted that the two countries' ministries are going to collaborate to lift tariffs on Ukrainian products in Syria, imposed under the Assad regime to control imports and “profit from them.”

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