After regarding 4 months, and in the first recognition of its kind in the world following the trail of its main ally Russia, Damascus announced on Wednesday its recognition of the independence of the separatist republics of Lugansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine to
The official Syrian News Agency quoted a source in the Foreign Ministry as saying, “It is an embodiment of the common will and desire to establish relations in all fields. 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.”
The source added that “communication will be conducted with both countries to agree on frameworks for strengthening relations, including establishing diplomatic relations in accordance with the established rules.”
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad announced earlier this month, during his meeting with a Russian delegation and representatives of the Donetsk Republic, his country’s readiness to “start working to raise relations … to the political level” with the latter.
On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his country’s recognition of the independence of the Lugansk and Donetsk regions in eastern Ukraine. Two days later, Moscow began its military operation in Ukraine.
This is not the first time that Damascus has joined its ally Russia. In May 2018, the Syrian government recognized the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and Ossetia in Georgia, which are under Russian influence.
Russia is one of Damascus’s most prominent allies alongside Iran, and since the beginning of the conflict in 2011 has provided it with diplomatic and economic support, especially in the UN Security Council, where it has blocked several draft resolutions condemning the Syrian regime.
The Russian military intervention in Syria since September 2015 contributed to turning the balance of power in the conflict in favor of the Syrian army and enabled it to regain control over large areas.
Moscow has also signed during the past years bilateral agreements with Damascus and long-term contracts in several fields, most notably energy, construction, oil and agriculture.
