Ukraine FM Calls for Expulsion of Russian Forces During Syria Visit

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga made an unannounced visit to Damascus on Monday, urging Syria’s new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa to expel Russian forces from the country. Russia had been a crucial ally of former president Bashar al-Assad, intervening in 2015 to help reverse the tide of Syria’s civil war in Assad’s favor. The overthrow of Assad was a significant blow to Russia, which has since launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Currently, Russia is focused on securing its naval base in Tartus and its air base at Hmeimim, both on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, as these are Moscow’s only military installations outside the former Soviet Union. Sybiga stated that both the Russian and Assad regimes relied on violence and torture to maintain control, and he emphasized that removing Russian influence from Syria would benefit not only Syria’s stability but also the broader Middle East and Africa.

Sybiga also expressed Ukraine’s willingness to restore relations with Syria, which had soured when Assad recognized Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territories. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine had sent its first shipment of aid to Syria—a 500-tonne delivery of wheat flour—despite the ongoing war in Ukraine, highlighting Ukraine’s position as one of the world’s leading wheat producers.

Meanwhile, rebels led by Sharaa’s Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), launched an offensive on November 27, quickly capturing several key cities before seizing the capital, Damascus, on December 8, forcing Assad to flee to Russia. Despite Russia’s continued support for Assad, Sharaa emphasized the deep strategic interests between Russia and Syria in an interview with Al-Arabiya TV, stating that Syria’s arms are all of Russian origin and many power plants are operated by Russian experts. He expressed opposition to the idea of Russia withdrawing from Syria in the manner some might hope for.