Ukraine is establishing strategic cooperation with Syria
Ukraine’s engagement with the new Syrian administration could become a factor in weakening Russia’s influence in the Middle East and Africa. The visit of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to Syria was very important, as was the food assistance provided to the country, said Andrii Kovalenko, Head of the CCD and an officer of the Defence Forces.
He explained that Russia has been interested in maintaining Assad’s regime in Syria for several reasons:
▫️ The Khmeimim and Tartus military bases, which support the logistics of Russian military operations both in the Middle East and Africa;
▫️ Russian drug trafficking routes through Syria;
▫️ The blocking of Qatar’s gas project, which, if implemented, could make Qatari gas a viable alternative to Russian gas for Europe.
«Any reduction in gas markets means a loss of hard currency for the Russian economy, which it uses to finance the war. In the long run, this will weaken Russia and prevent it from funding an intensive war», Andrii Kovalenko said.
