Ukraine is pledging support for the new authorities in Syria, which was once a key Russian ally in the Mideast.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday he was preparing to re-establish diplomatic ties with Syria, less than a month after the overthrow of the Russia-backed government in Damascus.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha visited Damascus on Dec. 30, marking the first official Ukrainian delegation to Syria in years. During the trip, he held talks with Syria’s de-facto leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed Kyiv's position on Russia's military presence in Syria to leaders of the new Syrian administration during a diplomatic visit to Damascus on Dec. 30,

Israeli forces detained more than 240 Palestinians including dozens of medical staff from a north Gaza hospital they raided on Friday, including its director, according to the Health Ministry in the enclave and Israel's military.

As Russia clings to its only bases in the Mediterranean — they’re on the coast of Syria — Ukraine is moving aggressively to displace Moscow as Syria’s main source of imported grain. Soon to follow are university educations, military drone technologies, and aid on investigating war crimes.

The visit comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a large shipment of wheat flour to war-torn Syria, as the two countries seek to reset relations following years of tensions over former President Bashar al-Assad's alliance with Russia.

During his visit to Syria, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha raised the flag of Ukraine over the consulate in Damascus and met with members of the Ukrainian community. — Ukrinform.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met with Syria's de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, during a high-profile visit to Damascus.

The Ukrainian delegation, headed by Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, has arrived in Damascus. They are holding a meeting with Syria's new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, the Syrian television, Al Arabiya,

Ukraine became one of the first countries to pay a high-level visit to Syria after the overthrow of the Bashar al-Assad regime. A delegation headed by Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha went to Damascus.