Syria recognises Ukraine’s two separatist republics

DAMASCUS: Moscow ally Syria on Wednesday recognised the independence of eastern Ukraine’s two separatist republics, making it the first state other than Russia to do so.

The breakaway states of Donetsk and Lugansk, whose independence Moscow recognised in February, are situated in the Donbas region at the centre of Russia’s invasion and have escaped Kyiv’s control since 2014.

"The Syrian Arab Republic has decided to recognise 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 official SANA news agency.

"We will communicate with both countries to agree on frameworks for strengthening relations, including establishing diplomatic relations in accordance with established rules," the source said.

Earlier this month, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with a Russian delegation and representatives of the Donetsk republic. During the meeting he said Damascus was ready to start political relations with Donetsk.

This is not the first time that the Syrian government, which since 2015 has been heavily backed by Russia in its own civil war, has supported Moscow’s recognition of breakaway states. In 2018, Syria recognised South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent from the former Soviet state of Georgia, prompting Tbilisi to cut diplomatic ties.