Syria, an ally of Russia announced on Wednesday June 29 to recognize the independence of the pro-Russian separatist republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, thus becoming the first foreign country to do so.
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Until now only Moscow had recognized in February the independence of these two regions, located in eastern Ukraine. “In accordance with the common will and desire to establish relations in all fields, Syria has decided to recognize the independence and sovereignty of the Lugansk People’s Republic and the Donetsk People’s Republic“Said a source in the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, quoted by the official news agency Sana. Officials of “two countries will get in touch to agree on frameworks for strengthening relations, including the establishment of diplomatic relations, in accordance with the rules“, adds the same source.
This is not the first time that Syria has expressed its support for territories recognized by Russia as independent. In 2018, Damascus recognized the independence of the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Georgia. Syria and Russia have been allies for decades, but ties have been significantly strengthened by the Syrian conflict and Moscow’s military intervention from 2015 alongside Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
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