File image.
Syria has officially recognized the independence of Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and the Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) from Ukraine, becoming the first state other than Russia to do so.
The DPR and LPR, which are situated in the Donbass region, broke away from Ukraine as a result of the 2014 conflict. Russia recognized the two states in February just days before launching a special military operation in Ukraine to push Kiev forces completely out from Donbass and end attacks on the region’s Russian-speaking population.
“The Syrian Arab Republic has decided to recognize the independence and sovereignty of both the Lugansk People’s Republic and the Donetsk People’s Republic,” a source at Syria’s foreign ministry told the Syrian Arab News Agency on June 29.
The source added that Syria “will communicate with both countries to agree on frameworks for strengthening relations, including establishing diplomatic relations in accordance with established rules”.
Earlier this month, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with delegation of Russian and DPR officials. During the meeting he said Damascus was ready to start political relations with Donetsk.
Click to see full-size image. Source: the Syrian Presidential Office.
The Syrian move was not surprising considering that the country was among the first to voice its support for the Russian special military operation in Ukraine.
Following the beginning of Russian counter-terrorism operations in Syria in 2015, the country took a series of political measures to strength its alliance with Russia. In 2016, Syria recognized Crimea as a part of Russia. Later in 2018, the country recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia, where Russian troops are present, as independent states from the former Soviet state of Georgia.
Syria’s move to establish diplomatic relations with the DPR and LPR is not only political. The war-torn country is likely looking to cooperate economically with the two states, who could help it overcome some of the problems caused by American and European sanctions.
