Zelenskyy Invites Switzerland to Join Ukraine’s Food Aid Initiative for Syria

Ukraine and Switzerland can work together to provide food assistance to the people of Syria, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in his evening address on January 7.

Zelenskyy held a telephone conversation with Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter, where they discussed, among other things, the effort they could put in to stabilize the situation in Syria by delivering food supplies.

The President highlighted Switzerland's yearly contributions to the Grain from Ukraine humanitarian program and extended an invitation for the country to participate in a new initiative, Food from Ukraine, designed to assist the Syrian people and avert a food crisis in Syria.

“Ukrainian food and financial participation of Switzerland – along with our other partners in this humanitarian program – is something that can help the Syrian people to establish a normal life after the war, and importantly, after Russia's presence in Syria,“ Zelenskyy said.

“Where Russia leaves ruins, we, together with the world, can restore normal life.”

Under the new program, Ukraine is planning to supply agricultural products to Syria. The first 500 tons of Ukrainian wheat flour has already been sent to Syria.

“Ukraine calls on its partners to join the initiative and help restore stability in Syria, which is also a shared contribution to protecting lives worldwide,” reads a statement on the presidential website.

On December 30, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met with Syria's newly appointed leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa during a historic visit to Damascus, delivering a personal message from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the Syrian people.