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Kyiv Links Resumption of Relations with Damascus to Reversal of Assad's Decisions
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Recognition of Ukrainian territories remains the main obstacle for developing relations between both countries, making Damascus' reversal of Assad's decisions a fundamental condition
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sebiha met with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham leader "Abu Mohammad al-Jolani" during his visit to Damascus today, Monday. Al-Jolani took control of the Syrian capital Damascus on December 8th, following the flee of former regime leader Bashar al-Assad, according to SANA news agency.
This meeting follows last week's announcement by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry about Kyiv's desire to revive diplomatic relations with Syria, conditional on the current government withdrawing former Assad regime's recognition of Russia's annexation of Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhy told reporters on Friday: "We will monitor how the new government acts. We understand that the former Assad regime recognized the violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity, which is why diplomatic relations were cut. If this policy changes, diplomatic relations will be resumed."
Commenting on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's initiative on Friday to send 500 tons of wheat flour to Syria through the humanitarian "Grain from Ukraine" project in cooperation with the World Food Programme, Tykhy emphasized that this initiative is part of a comprehensive strategy stemming from "Ukraine's sincere desire to help the Syrian people" in their current crisis.
The spokesman stressed Kyiv's readiness to take additional initiatives if there is mutual will to enhance dialogue.
Levant-Agencies
