Syria became only the second country to do so, after Russia
Syria has announced that it is severing diplomatic relations with Ukraine as a reciprocal measure, reported AFP. Kyiv took a similar step late last month after Damascus recognized the independence of pro-Russian separatist republics in eastern Ukraine.
“The Syrian Arab Republic has decided to break diplomatic relations with Ukraine in accordance with the principle of reciprocity and in response to the decisions of the Ukrainian government,” said a representative of the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, quoted by the state news agency SANA.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry said that Ukraine effectively severed bilateral relations back in 2018 when it refused to confirm the status of Syrian diplomats in Kyiv, making it impossible for them to carry out their duties.
The Syrian embassy in Kyiv then suspended operations “as a result of the hostile attitude of the Ukrainian government,” the statement quoted by the Associated Press said.
On June 29, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he was cutting diplomatic ties with Syria after the regime in Damascus recognized the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR), supported by Moscow since 2014, earlier that month. recalls AFP.
“The Syrian Arab Republic has decided to break diplomatic relations with Ukraine in accordance with the principle of reciprocity and in response to the decisions of the Ukrainian government,” said a representative of the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, quoted by the state news agency SANA.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry said that Ukraine effectively severed bilateral relations back in 2018 when it refused to confirm the status of Syrian diplomats in Kyiv, making it impossible for them to carry out their duties. The Syrian embassy in Kyiv then suspended operations “as a result of the hostile attitude of the Ukrainian government,” the statement quoted by the Associated Press said.
Syria became only the second country to do so, after Russia. Moscow recognized the independence of the DPR and LPR a few days before launching its invasion of Ukraine.
As early as 2018, Damascus recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two Georgian separatist regions that are also supported by Russia.
Damascus and Moscow have been allies for decades, with their ties further strengthened since the outbreak of the Syrian conflict. In 2015, Russia launched a decisive military intervention in Syria in support of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Source: BTA
