Ukraine and Syria have officially restored diplomatic relations following a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Syrian leader Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaah in New York during the UN summit.
The two leaders signed a joint communiqué formalizing the restoration of ties, with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaybani executing the formal agreement in the presidents’ presence.
Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine welcomes the opportunity to rebuild relations with Syria and expressed readiness to support the Syrian people’s path toward stability, according to the presidential office.
The leaders agreed to establish future bilateral relations based on principles of mutual respect, trust and dignity.
Regime’s collapse in Syria in 2024
The diplomatic breakthrough follows Syria’s dramatic political transformation on 8 December 2024, when President Bashar al-Assad fled Damascus amid a rapid opposition offensive and subsequently found asylum in Russia. Assad’s fall has triggered what observers describe as a strategic defeat for Russia, which has begun a large-scale withdrawal of military personnel and equipment from Syria.
Russia had served as Assad’s crucial ally since its military intervention in 2015, providing the support that helped him maintain power throughout the Syrian Civil War. The regime’s collapse has effectively ended Moscow’s decade-long military presence in the country.
Ukraine previously broke ties over territorial recognition
Ukraine had severed diplomatic ties with Damascus in June 2022 after Assad’s government recognized Russian territorial claims in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.
Al-Sharaah, who now serves as president during Syria’s transitional period, previously led rebel forces against Assad’s government. The United States had offered a $10 million reward for his capture due to his group’s alleged connections to Al-Qaeda, though Washington has since revised its stance, with President Donald Trump meeting personally with the Syrian leader.
Restoration of ties with new leadership
The restoration process began in December 2024 when Sybiha visited Syria for negotiations with the new leadership. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry had indicated its willingness to rebuild relations following Assad’s removal from power.
The presidents discussed potential areas for bilateral cooperation, particularly in agriculture, and addressed security concerns affecting both nations, according to the Ukrainian president’s office.
Syria is scheduled to conduct its first parliamentary elections under the new administration on 5 October 2025, marking a transition from decades of Assad family rule.