“Ukraine's search for new friends leads it to Turkey and Syria,” writes The Economist. In April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky paid diplomatic visits to Damascus (Syria) and Istanbul (Türkiye). The meetings were fruitful for both parties and give hope for increasing mutual support. Syria and Ukraine restored diplomatic relations last September – Zelensky previously severed them in 2022 after Syria recognized Russia's annexation of Ukrainian oblasts. Now Ukraine announces that it will soon appoint an ambassador to Syria, but that's not all. The agreement between the two countries provides for the exchange of economic benefits.
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The Turkish president arranged Zelensky's visit to Syria
Syria has one of the world's largest phosphate deposits, which Ukraine would like to use in agriculture. Ukraine, in turn, has wheat, which Syria, impoverished by more than a decade of civil war, badly needs.
A security partnership is also possible in the future. Ukraine counts on support from Damascus. Syria, in turn, needs help in modernizing its army, including: modernizing aging Soviet-era weapons systems, as well as rebuilding the port and energy infrastructure.
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The second country with which Ukraine has a chance to strengthen relations is Türkiye. Although one of Turkey's largest trading partners is Russia, as The Economist emphasizes, “the times when Recep Tayyip Erdogan flaunted his independence from NATO by buying Russian military equipment […] long gone.” The newspaper reminds that Baykar, the leading company producing drones in Turkey, is building a factory in Kiev, and other Turkish defense companies are also considering joint ventures.
Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Syria was arranged by Erdogan, with whom the Ukrainian president met the day before in Istanbul. He flew to Damascus on a Turkish government plane, together with the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs.
