Rhino: Agencies – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that his country is preparing to resume diplomatic relations with Syria less than a month after overthrowing the Russian-backed government in Damascus.

Zelensky’s statement came after a visit to Syria by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sipha and Agriculture Minister Vitaly Koval, who said earlier that Ukraine had already sent a shipment of food aid. “We are preparing to resume diplomatic relations with Syria and cooperation in international organizations,” Zelensky added.

Ukraine severed diplomatic relations with Syria in June 2022 after the Damascus government at the time said it recognized the “independence” of Russia-occupied territories in Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Since opposition forces ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad last month, Ukraine has been moving to build ties with the new Islamist rulers there.