For decades, Ukraine has been known as the "breadbasket of Europe," its fertile soil producing vast amounts of grain that feed the world.
Even amidst the turmoil of war, Ukraine has maintained its crucial role in global food security.
Now, President Volodymyr Zelenski is looking to extend that lifeline to Syria, offering humanitarian aid in the form of wheat, flour, and oil.
“We can now help the Syrian people with our wheat, flour, and oil,” Zelenski announced on Sunday according to Hotnews.
“These are products used worldwide to ensure food security,” he added during his daily address.
Helping Syria Amid Political Turmoil
The aid proposal follows the dramatic fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8.
A coalition of rebels, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, drove Assad from power after an 11-day offensive.
The deposed Syrian leader has since fled to Russia, leaving a vacuum in a country ravaged by conflict and hunger.
Ukraine plans to deliver the aid under its "Grain from Ukraine" initiative, launched in 2022.
This program was designed to support the world’s most vulnerable nations, especially those struggling with food shortages.
Zelenski acknowledged logistical hurdles but emphasized Ukraine's readiness to act.
“We are coordinating with partners and Syrian representatives to resolve logistics,” he said.
The goal is to help stabilize the region while advancing Ukraine’s vision for global peace.
This announcement comes as Russia, Assad’s long-time ally, halts its grain exports to Syria. Moscow’s influence in the country has been severely weakened, leaving an opening for Kyiv to assist.
Despite Russia’s ongoing threats in the Black Sea, Ukraine has maintained significant grain exports. In 2023, Kyiv established a secure maritime corridor, allowing agricultural products to leave the country despite Moscow’s warnings.
