Ukraine, Syria agree to reopen embassies in Kyiv, Damascus 'in near future'
Ukraine and Syria agreed Sunday to reopen embassies in Kyiv and Damascus in the "near future," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said following talks in Damascus. The announcement came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made his first visit to Syria, meeting with President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
Ukraine and Syria on Sunday agreed to reopen embassies in Kyiv and Damascus in the "near future," the Ukrainian foreign minister said on Sunday. Andrii Sybiha said he held talks in Damascus with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani to discuss security, logistics, trade, and food security.
Trade growth
He underlined that trade between Ukraine and Syria has increased nine times since the signing of a joint communique on restoring diplomatic relations in Sept. 2025, saying Kyiv sees opportunities to expand this further. The two agreed to continue working together to advance a "lasting peace" for the Ukrainian and Syrian peoples, Sybiha said. "The security of Europe and the Middle East is interlinked," he wrote on X.
Cooperation areas
The two ministers also addressed logistics, including the development of trade and maritime routes, "with strong potential to deepen economic cooperation." "Food security remains an important track. Ukraine stands ready to contribute, including through initiatives such as Grain from Ukraine, to support stability in the region." Sybiha also discussed humanitarian and educational cooperation, noting that many Syrian students have studied and continue to study in Ukraine.
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Zelenskyy's visit
Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday met with his Syrian counterpart, Ahmad al-Sharaa, during his first visit to Damascus. The two agreed to collaborate to provide "greater" security and more opportunities for development in Ukrainian and Syrian societies, Zelenskyy wrote on X. He discussed the situation in the region, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and Ukraine's role as a reliable food supplier.
Background
Ukraine severed relations with Syria after the latter recognized the Russian breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine in 2022, while Bashar al-Assad was in power. The restoration of diplomatic ties marks a significant shift in Syrian foreign policy following Assad's ouster in December 2024.
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