Ukraine war news: Kyiv to resume diplomacy with Syria, president says [Video]

KYIV, Ukraine –

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday he was preparing to re-establish diplomatic ties with Syria, less than a month after the overthrow of the Russia-backed government in Damascus.

Zelenskiy spoke after a visit to Syria by his Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, and by Agriculture Minister Vitaliy Koval who said earlier Ukraine had already sent a shipment of food aid.

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“We are preparing to resume diplomatic relations with Syria and cooperation in international organizations,” Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine cut diplomatic ties with Syria in June 2022 after the then government in Damascus said it recognized the “independence” of the Russia-occupied territories in Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Since rebels overthrew Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad last month, Ukraine has been moving to build ties with the new Islamist rulers there. Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022, …