Politics: Syrian Government Cut Ties With Ukraine
Syria, a close ally of Russia, has announced it is formally breaking diplomatic ties with Ukraine in response to a similar move by Kyiv.
“The Syrian Arab Republic has decided to break diplomatic relations with Ukraine in conformity with the principle of reciprocity,” a Syrian foreign ministry statement said on Wednesday.
Late last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv would cut ties after Syria recognised the Russian-backed breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine.
There will no longer be relations between Ukraine and Syria,” Zelenskyy said at the time.
The Syrian foreign ministry said Ukraine had first ruptured relations in 2018 by refusing to revalidate the residencies of its diplomatic staff in Kyiv, making it impossible for them to carry out their duties.
It added that the Syrian embassy at that time suspended its duties “as a result of the hostile attitudes of the Ukrainian government.”
“The Syrian foreign ministry says its decision to break with Kyiv was in accordance to the ‘principle of reciprocity’.
Russian President Vladimir Putin joined Syria’s conflict in 2015, helping tip the balance of power in favour of President Bashar
Syria, a close ally of Russia, has announced it is formally breaking diplomatic ties with Ukraine in response to a similar move by Kyiv.
“The Syrian Arab Republic has decided to break diplomatic relations with Ukraine in conformity with the principle of reciprocity,” a Syrian foreign ministry statement said on Wednesday.
On the verge of last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv would cut relations after Syria recognised the Russian-backed breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine.
“There will no longer be relations between Ukraine and Syria,” Zelenskyy said at the time.
The Syrian foreign ministry said Ukraine had first ruptured relations in 2018 by refusing to revalidate the residencies of its diplomatic staff in Kyiv, making it impossible for them to carry out their duties.
It added that the Syrian embassy at that time suspended its duties “as a result of the hostile attitudes of the Ukrainian government.”
Wednesday’s announcement comes as Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad meets Iranian officials in Tehran, a day after a summit between the leaders of Russia, Iran and Turkey in the Iranian capital.
In only his second trip abroad since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Russian President Putin discussed the conflict in Syria with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
