Damascus, Kyiv Revive Diplomatic Ties in a Shift Away From Moscow
[Damascus] Syria and Ukraine announced on Thursday the resumption of diplomatic relations, restoring ties that were broken in 2022 under the ousted Assad regime.
The announcement followed a meeting between Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York, on the sidelines of the 80th session of the U.N. General Assembly.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha signed an agreement to restore relations between the two countries, in a step described by the Syrian state news agency SANA as the beginning of a new phase of openness.
Zelenskyy welcomed the step and called it “important,” affirming on the X platform his country’s readiness to support the Syrian people in their path toward stability. He wrote: “We discussed with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa the prospects for cooperation, the shared security threats, and agreed to build relations based on respect and mutual trust.”
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Relations between Damascus and Kyiv deteriorated in July 2022, after the former Syrian regime recognized the “independence” of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, prompting Ukraine to cut ties and consider the Syrian position “an unfriendly act and a blatant violation of international law.” The former regime under Bashar Assad aligned with Moscow, which has intervened militarily in Syria since 2015, making any rapprochement with Ukraine during the war with Russia unlikely.
The Syrian landscape shifted in December 2024, when Syrian factions overthrew Ba’ath Party rule after more than six decades, ending the Assad family’s 53-year hold on power. In January 2025, Ahmed al-Sharaa assumed the presidency for a transitional five-year term, opening the way to a new foreign policy direction.
The Syrian-Ukrainian step does not seem to be merely a routine diplomatic procedure but carries clear political messages. It indicates to the West that Damascus seeks to reposition itself internationally, away from the axis-based policies that characterized the previous regime. Kyiv, for its part, sees the restoration of relations as a diplomatic gain in a region long associated with Russian influence.
Moreover, the resumption of communication between Damascus and Kyiv could be read as a shift in the balance of power in Syria, as Russia has lost a strategic ally under the new administration. Despite the positive nature of the announcement, the path for Syrian-Ukrainian relations will not be easy. Russia, which played a pivotal role in Syria alongside Assad for years, may not easily accept Damascus’ opening to Kyiv. Syria’s internal situation remains fragile during the transitional period, leaving foreign policy exposed to domestic shifts.
In addition, translating this rapprochement into tangible cooperation in the fields of economy, security and reconstruction will require time and a shared vision that goes beyond the symbolic nature of reopening diplomatic channels. The restoration of relations between Syria and Ukraine reflects the contours of a new political scene in the region, as Damascus seeks to emerge from isolation and open up to parties previously in opposition, while Kyiv aims to strengthen its presence and gain new supporters in facing Moscow.
Amid both hopes and challenges, the move is seen as the first real test of the two sides’ ability to forge a solid partnership that moves beyond symbolism and paves the way for long-term cooperation.
