During President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Damascus, Ukraine proposed to the Syrian side an agreement to supply wheat in exchange for phosphates at a low price, as well as an expansion of cooperation in the field of unmanned systems, reports the pan-Arab publication Asharq Al-Awsat.
“Ukraine is offering wheat in exchange for phosphates at a low price. Currently, a Russian company controls about 70% of Syria’s phosphate production and sells it in Europe,” the source cited retired Colonel Imad Shahoud.
According to the expert, one of the priority tasks of the Ukrainian delegation is to block the channels for selling stolen Ukrainian grain, which Russia is attempting to market in the region at undervalued prices, including in Egypt, a major importer of cereals.
“Zelenskyy is trying to stop the sale of stolen Ukrainian grain and ensure the security of Syrian phosphates,” Shahoud emphasized, noting that Kyiv is simultaneously considering Syria as a promising platform to promote its own military technologies.
Beyond the agricultural sector, the sides are focusing on technical partnerships. Abdulwahab Assi, head of the research department at the Jusur Center, noted that Ukraine can provide Damascus with technologies to modernize equipment and effectively counter Iranian drones.
“Ukraine is not a strategic alternative to Russia, but merely a technical partner that could help reduce threats from Iranian missiles and UAVs, as well as provide support in repairing machinery,” Assi said.
Analysts believe that Kyiv’s increased activity in Syria, amid Moscow’s weakening position, is a clear signal of a shift in the regional balance of power. At the same time, Damascus appears interested in leveraging Ukrainian expertise to restore its own agricultural production and industrial base.
