The visit of President Zelenskyy to Syria on April 5, 2026, is, without exaggeration, historic.

It is the first visit by a President of Ukraine to Damascus - the capital of a country that until recently was a key Russian ally in the Middle East.

In June 2022, after Syria recognized the "independence" of the Russian-occupied territories of the so-called "DPR" and "LPR" and supported Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, Ukraine severed diplomatic relations with Syria and imposed an embargo.

Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in September 2025, Ukraine and Syria signed a joint communiqué on restoring diplomatic relations.

President Zelenskyy’s visit to Syria on April 5, 2026, demonstrates the final loss of Russian influence in the region after the collapse of Assad’s regime.

This is not just a bilateral visit, but the final stage of a regional tour that began in late March. President Zelenskyy visited Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Jordan - reaching concrete agreements in both defense and economic spheres. Visits to Turkey, and then Syria, logically complete this arc.

The sequence Ankara-Damascus is highly symbolic. President Erdoğan is the key external patron of Syria’s new authorities. President Zelenskyy effectively arrived in Damascus with Turkish backing, significantly increasing the status and credibility of the visit.

A Ukraine-Turkey-Syria axis is now taking shape.

Turkey acts as the central mediator in this trilateral format, strengthening stability in both the Black Sea and Mediterranean regions.

◾️ Security dimension

Syria seeks stability. Ukraine is a unique partner: it has real experience countering Russian and Iranian expansion, while not being a NATO member.

◾️ Energy dimension

In particular, discussions include a Qatar-Turkey-Europe gas pipeline project aimed at diversifying Europe’s gas supplies and reducing dependence on Russia.

◾️ Diplomatic dimension vis-à-vis Russia

While trilateral talks between Ukraine, the United States, and Russia are on hold due to hostilities in the Middle East, Ukraine is building an alternative architecture of influence - regional partners capable of exerting economic and diplomatic pressure on Moscow.

◾️ Food security and reconstruction

Ukraine has reaffirmed its role as a reliable grain supplier to Syria under the Grain from Ukraine and Food from Ukraine initiatives.

Discussions also include the reconstruction of Syrian infrastructure, particularly in the energy and industrial sectors.

📹: Apro-Ukraine rally in Idlib, Syria, opposing Syrian normalization with Russia, October 2025/ Thomas van Linge