On Wednesday, September 24, 2025, Ukraine and Syria officially re-established diplomatic relations. This significant announcement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting with Syrian leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
These ties were previously severed in June 2022, when Syria, under then-leader Bashar al-Assad, recognized territories occupied by Russia in Ukraine after Moscow’s full-scale invasion.
Since Assad’s removal in December 2024, Ukraine has actively pursued re-engagement with Syrian authorities. Assad had maintained a strong alliance with Russia for years, even allowing Moscow to establish a military presence in Syria.
President Zelenskyy expressed his satisfaction with the development on Telegram, stating, “We are pleased with this important step and are ready to support the Syrian people on their path to stability.”
As part of this renewed engagement, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister visited Damascus last December. During these talks with the new Syrian leadership, he advocated for the removal of Russian forces from Syrian territory and pledged future food aid.
The Syrian leadership, in turn, conveyed its desire for robust and close relations with Kyiv.
Interestingly, Russia, which granted asylum to Assad, has also been actively working to cultivate ties with the current Syrian government. A high-level Russian delegation, led by a senior energy official, visited Syria earlier this month.
During his address to the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, President Zelenskyy emphasized that Syria is deserving of increased international assistance and noted that Damascus continues to call for the easing of severe economic sanctions.