Ukraine and Syria Leaders Meet in New York
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Syrian leader Ahmed Sharaa, both known for their strong anti-Russian stance, met in New York on Wednesday. Their goal? To pledge mutual support in rebuilding after the devastation caused by Russian aggression.
Sharaa’s political background is quite complex. He was a senior figure in the jihadist group Al-Qaeda and led Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), which focused on overthrowing former Syrian dictator Bashar Assad. HTS made significant gains in late 2021, pushing Assad to flee the country. Reports suggest that Assad and his family ended up in Moscow as HTS advanced into Damascus.
Since the civil war erupted in 2011, the Russian government has been a crucial ally for Assad, and they’ve maintained close ties with Iran. After Assad’s departure, Sharaa distanced himself from his jihadist roots, claiming his new government would be inclusive. His transformation was enough to secure a meeting with President Trump in May, where Trump praised him as a capable leader.
This week at the UN General Assembly, Sharaa made history by becoming the first Syrian president to address the assembly in over fifty years. He has also engaged in discussions with world leaders to help reintegrate Syria into the global community and attract investments for recovery.
During his meeting with Zelensky, Sharaa aimed to restore bilateral diplomatic relations. Under Assad’s rule, Syria had no meaningful ties with Ukraine, and relations were severed in 2022 after Assad recognized certain regions of Ukraine as independent. This was a significant geopolitical move, especially as Russia was also involved in annexing those areas.
Zelensky shared that the two leaders signed documents aimed at reviving their diplomatic relationship.
“In our talks, we looked at cooperation possibilities, shared security threats, and how to address them,” Zelensky noted, emphasizing a future built on mutual respect and trust.
Meanwhile, Syrian state media released photos of the meeting but provided little additional information.
Zelensky took the opportunity to voice support for Ukraine as it approaches the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion. His speech at the General Assembly condemned those who aren’t taking strong enough actions to counter Russia.
“International law only functions effectively if there’s a strong ally willing to support it, and it certainly doesn’t work without military support,” he warned. “That’s a harsh reality, and without it, situations will worsen. Security can only be guaranteed through friends and arms.”
Trump expressed his support for Zelensky this week, declaring confidence in Ukraine’s ability to overcome the Russian onslaught. This relationship has been rocky in the past, with incidents such as Zelensky being ousted from the White House due to perceived discourteousness.
Although Sharaa hasn’t rejected Russia’s attempts to forge ties with Syria, his focus seems to be on enhancing relations with the U.S. and its allies while maintaining a distance from the past affiliations. He recently had another meeting with Trump in New York, alongside photos featuring Trump and his wife, which sparked mixed reactions among Sharaa’s supporters.
In his address, Sharaa discussed the severe actions taken by previous administrations in Syria and their catastrophic results. He emphasized the need for financial support and reconstruction efforts, indicating that lifting sanctions would be crucial for the Syrian people.
“The previous administrations inflicted unimaginable suffering upon our people,” he asserted. “We strive to lift sanctions to free our people from their burden. Revisions to investment laws are underway, and several major companies are poised to enter the Syrian market to aid in rebuilding.”
