Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced during the weekend that he would provide Syria with grain and other agricultural products through the humanitarian program “Grain from Ukraine,” a move that comes shortly after the fall of Syria’s president Bashar al-Assad. The White House described the “collapse of the Assad regime as a momentous and a historic landmark event,” but cautioned it was also a moment of risk and uncertainty in the region.
Zelenskyy, after reports from Ukraine’s governmental officials, is preparing to send humanitarian aid to Syria to “prevent a food crisis.”
The president stated that discussions were held with government officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, about food aid within the framework of the “Grain from Ukraine” program and aid for Syria.
He emphasized that this is a humanitarian initiative that has already made a significant impact in stabilizing the food situation in some of the world’s most challenging regions.
“Now, we have the opportunity to support Syrians with Ukrainian wheat, flour, and oil—our products that contribute globally to ensuring food security,” he said.
Zelenskyy said that he has instructed the government to establish food supply mechanisms in cooperation with international organizations and partners who can help.
For Ukraine, this is an important step, as the “calmer the situation in such regions, the more actively the world can help Ukraine achieve peace.”
“It is precisely for this reason that Moscow tries so hard to ignite more conflicts and wars in various parts of the world, fueling instability and adding to global challenges,” Zelenskyy noted.
“We will certainly support this region so that stability there can become a foundation for our movement toward real peace.”
In his remarks to the country Sunday, Zelenskyy highlighted that Ukraine is coordinating with its partners and the Syrian side to decide on logistics.
“We call on everyone worldwide to join stabilization efforts to ensure that the war—ignited over a decade ago in Syria with the involvement of Iran and Russia—can finally come to an end,” the president added.
