Syria's new leader meets with Ukraine's top diplomat

By AFP - Dec 30,2024 - Last updated at Dec 30,2024

A Fighter affiliated with Syria's new administration rides on a camel together with a child near one of Hama's landmark historic water wheels, or norias, on the Orontos riverbank in the heart of the central Syrian city on December 30, 2024 (AFP photo)

DAMASCUS — New Syrian leader Ahmed Al Sharaa held talks on Monday with Ukraine's foreign minister, the official news agency SANA reported, weeks after Russian-allied president Bashar al-Assad was ousted from power.

"The leader of the new administration Ahmed Al Sharaa met with a Ukrainian delegation headed by Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga," SANA reported, without providing further details.

On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country had sent its first shipment of food aid, 500 tonnes of wheat flour, to Syria.

Despite the war, Ukraine is one of the world's top wheat producers.

Rebels led by Sharaa's Islamist group Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS) launched an offensive on November 27 that saw them take a number of key cities in quick succession before seizing the capital Damascus 11 days later, sending Assad fleeing to Russia.

But despite Moscow's backing for Assad, Sharaa on Sunday noted the "deep strategic interests between Russia and Syria" in an interview with the Al-Arabiya TV channel.

"All Syria's arms are of Russian origin, and many power plants are managed by Russian experts... We do not want Russia to leave Syria in the way that some wish," Sharaa added.

Rate