Russia's Allied Assad Regime Falls, Ukraine's Turn To Appear Ready For Food Supply

Syria's Latakia Condition after the fall of the Assad/PHOTO regime of White Helmets/ X @SyriaCivivilDef

JAKARTA - Ukraine, a global grain producer and exporter, is ready to supply food to Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

Russian and Syrian sources have previously said Russia's supply of wheat to Syria has been suspended due to uncertainty over the new government and delays in payments.

Syria imported food from Russia during the Assad era and it was unclear how the relationship between Damascus and Moscow would form under the new government.

"If things are difficult, we have to be there with our food. We are open to supplying our food and if Syria needs food - then we are there," Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Vitaliy Koval told Reuters on Friday, December 13.

Ukraine's exports were hit hard by the Russian invasion in February 2022, which greatly reduced shipments through the Black Sea. Ukraine has since de facto-violating the sea blockade and revived exports from its southern port,

Kyiv exports wheat and corn to Middle Eastern countries, but not to Syria.

Traders said only about 6,000 metric tons of Ukrainian corn reached the Syrian market in the 2023/24 season, out of a total volume of corn exports of 29.4 million tons.

However, a small amount of seeds from Ukraine may have reached Syria from neighboring countries, but these statistics are not covered, analysts say.

Since the fall of Assad, Russia's close ally, Kiev has voiced its desire to restore relations with Syria.

Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said Kyiv is ready to pave the way for the restoration of future relations and reaffirm our support for the Syrian people.