Historic visit: Zelenskyy arrives in Syria — first details

Today, April 5, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is visiting Syria.

The head of state announced this on social media.

According to the president, the primary focus of the trip is on “real security” issues and economic cooperation.

"Important meetings lie ahead — several substantive formats have been prepared. Every nation, every region deserves peaceful life,” Zelenskyy stated concisely.

Earlier, the Syrian state news agency SANA reported that Zelenskyy arrived in Syria to meet with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also arrived in Damascus alongside Zelenskyy. They were welcomed at the airport by Syrian Foreign Minister Asad Hassan al-Shaibani.

The Ukrainian delegation includes Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, and Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov.

Why this visit matters

Ihor Semyvolos, Director of the Association of Middle East Studies, explained the strategic significance of this visit for Ukraine.

"We can state that a truly historic visit is unfolding before our eyes. There is no overstating how vital Syria is to Middle Eastern security and how significant a market it could become for Ukraine in the near future, serving as a common field for cooperation," the expert said.

Semyvolos believes the negotiations will be fruitful and far-reaching. He anticipates the talks will cover Syria's reconstruction, security cooperation, oil and gas sectors, power plants, and military partnership.