Ukraine and Syria to Cooperate on Security Efforts

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus on Sunday, marking his first visit to the Syrian capital since 2024. The leaders of Ukraine and Syria agreed to enhance security cooperation, according to a statement released by Zelenskyy.

During the meeting, Zelenskyy stated that there is interest in exchanging military and security experience between the two countries. This comes as Ukraine has been offering its expertise in countering drone attacks to governments across the Middle East region, including visits to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Ukraine has developed a reputation for countering drone attacks during its ongoing conflict with Russia, which began on February 28. The country has also signed long-term military cooperation deals with Saudi Arabia and Qatar during his recent visit to the Gulf states.

Syria lacks air defenses capable of dealing with Iranian drones or missiles. Zelenskyy also discussed joint opportunities for strengthening food security across the region with al-Sharaa, stating that Ukraine is a reliable grain supplier.

In addition to the meeting between leaders, foreign ministers from both countries also met in Damascus on Sunday. These meetings come after Zelenskyy’s visit to Turkey earlier this week, where he met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and discussed security cooperation and joint gas infrastructure projects.

Source: Al Jazeera