Damascus, Syria — April 5, 2026 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Syria on Tuesday for diplomatic talks following a visit to Turkey, as Ukraine seeks to strengthen security and economic ties in the Middle East. Zelenskyy met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Scharaa and emphasized Ukraine’s commitment to active diplomacy. In a statement, he said: *"Wir setzen unsere aktive ukrainische Diplomatie im Interesse echter Sicherheit und wirtschaftlicher Zusammenarbeit fort"* ("We continue our active Ukrainian diplomacy in the interest of real security and economic cooperation"). The visit comes as Ukraine has signed multiple military cooperation agreements with Middle Eastern nations and deployed drone experts to help counter Iranian drone attacks in the region. Zelenskyy also offered Ukraine’s assistance in securing shipping routes in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The Russian Foreign Ministry criticized Zelenskyy’s trip, questioning whether he had "nothing to do in his own country." Ukraine has been defending itself against Russia’s war of aggression for over four years. No further details about the agreements or outcomes of the Syria talks were immediately available.