Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa (left) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (right)
VIDEO: Syria, Ukraine restore diplomatic ties at UN General Assembly
Syria and Ukraine officially restored diplomatic relations on Wednesday, following a meeting between Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly in New York.
The discussions, attended by Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and a Syrian delegation, marked a historic step in rebuilding ties between the two nations, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said in a brief statement.
Zelenskyy confirmed the move on X, the US social media platform, stating, “We welcome this important step and are ready to support the Syrian people on their path to stability.” He added that the leaders had discussed key sectors for potential cooperation, shared security challenges, and the importance of addressing them. “We agreed to build our relations on the basis of mutual respect and trust,” he noted.
Today, Ukraine and Syria signed a Joint Communiqué on the restoration of diplomatic relations. We welcome this important step and are ready to support the Syrian people on their path to stability.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 24, 2025
During our negotiations with President of Syria Ahmed al-Sharaa, we also discussed… pic.twitter.com/HBXsoaRob8
Ukraine had cut diplomatic ties with Syria in 2022 after Damascus recognized the breakaway Russian-backed regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine.
Sharaa arrived in New York on Sunday with several ministers to attend the UN General Assembly, marking Syria’s return to the annual gathering at the presidential level for the first time in nearly six decades. Syria had boycotted the summit since 1967, following the Arab-'Israeli' war and 'Israel’s' occupation of the Golan Heights. Damascus had long accused the UN and other international bodies of favoring 'Israel' due to Western backing.
In his first address to the General Assembly, Sharaa called for the lifting of international sanctions, signaling Syria’s intent to re-engage with the global community. The last Syrian president to attend the UN summit was Nureddin al-Atassi, who served from 1966 to 1970.
Since the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, Syria’s new administration under Sharaa has pursued political and economic reforms, promoted social cohesion, and sought to strengthen cooperation with regional and international partners.
Assad, who had led the country for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia in December 2024, ending the Baath Party’s rule that had lasted since 1963. Sharaa’s transitional government was established in January.
