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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shared a post on his social media account following the visit of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Agriculture Minister Vitaliy Koval to Syria. "WE ARE PREPARING TO REESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS"In his message, Zelensky stated, "This year, we can add more countries to our list of reliable partners, especially Syria. We are preparing to reestablish diplomatic relations and cooperation in international organizations. I thank our intelligence for preparing the security ground for these contacts," he said. Zelensky also mentioned that they are considering increasing trade with Lebanon, stating, "Currently, our agricultural exports to this country are at the level of 400 million dollars, and we aim to at least double that." Emphasizing that they plan to increase activities towards Africa in 2025, Zelensky said, "Every new partnership creates greater opportunities for our diplomacy and economy." "OUR TOTAL EXPORTS HAVE EXCEEDED 41 BILLION DOLLARS"Zelensky stated, "In 2024, we managed to increase our exports by more than 5 billion dollars (15%) compared to 2023, and our total exports for the year exceeded 41 billion dollars. Our goal for 2025 is to maintain this growth. I thank all our officials, diplomats, and Ukrainian companies who secure our connections with the world. Especially, I thank every soldier and unit that ensures the safety of our export routes in the Black Sea," he said. SYRIA-UKRAINE RELATIONS HAD BEEN CUT OFFOn the other hand, Ukraine severed diplomatic relations with Syria after the then-government of Bashar al-Assad announced in June 2022 that it recognized the "independence" of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which are under Russian occupation.
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