Ukraine's Zelensky announces humanitarian aid for Syria

Ukraine is ready to provide humanitarian aid to Syria, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday.

In coordination with his government, he said that food from the Grain from Ukraine programme could be used to assist the Syrian population, Zelensky said in his evening video address.

"Now we can help the Syrians with Ukrainian wheat, flour and our oil - our products that are used worldwide to ensure food security," Zelensky said.

Specifically, he said, the logistics need to be agreed upon with representatives from Syria. "We will definitely support this region so that peace there can become a cornerstone for our movement towards genuine peace," Zelensky said.

The humanitarian programme, initiated in 2022, stipulates that donor countries and other organizations purchase agricultural products directly from Ukrainian producers and send them to countries in need, primarily in Africa and Asia.

Syria's long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad was overthrown a few days ago following a surprise offensive by Islamist rebels.

Large parts of the country were destroyed after a civil war broke out in the country following the Arab Spring in 2011. After initial successes by the rebels, the uprising was largely suppressed with Russian military aid.