Big Intrigue

• Vladimir Fesenko
• 6.04.2026, 16:45

Why Zelensky's visit to Syria took place.

President Zelensky's unexpected visit to Syria, given its context and a number of circumstances, was probably made at the behest and with the direct assistance of Turkish President Erdogan. I would not be surprised if it turns out that the very idea of this visit emerged during Zelensky's meeting with Erdogan (although, perhaps, this visit was planned jointly by the Ukrainian and Turkish sides). The following facts testify in favor of this version: Zelensky's visit to Syria took place immediately after his visit to Turkey; Zelensky visited Syria together with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and they arrived in Damascus on a Turkish government plane.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, after meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, expressed great interest in sharing experience in the security sphere. Ukraine's interest is understandable. With the aggravation of the military and political situation in West Asia, the Ukrainian president is actively promoting Ukraine's interests in this region as a potential partner in military-technical cooperation. Syria can also be a potential buyer of Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products.

I will draw attention to one more important point. In my opinion, Ukraine is trying to gain a foothold in this region, in particular, to counteract Russia. This has already happened in Libya, where a small military mission of Ukrainian specialists is working. It is still difficult to say whether it can happen in Syria, where Russian interests are also present. But it is already obvious that in a number of regions of the world a hidden but active struggle between Ukrainian and Russian special services is beginning.

The biggest intrigue of Zelensky's visit to Syria lies in the question: why does Erdogan need it? Turkey already has a weighty influence on the current Syrian regime. Perhaps by promoting Ukrainian interests in Syria President Erdogan is breaking the Russian game in the region. Russia seeks not just to maintain its presence in Syria, but to restore its influence in the country. And this is hardly in Turkey's interests. But perhaps Erdogan is pursuing more far-reaching goals, gradually forming a network of informal political alliances covering Western Asia, the South Caucasus, parts of Europe and Central Asia.

The United States is also very interested in Syria. And our possible non-economic activity in this region will have to be at least partially coordinated with the Americans. And then there is Israel, with which Ukraine has ambiguous relations (seemingly friendly, but rather reserved-neutral), and whose interests are closely connected with the United States. And Turkey's relations with Israel are not very good. And if Ukraine starts an active political game in the West Asian region, we will have to take into account the whole complex puzzle of contradictory geopolitical relations in this region. And in order for our influence in the region to be systematic and consistent, we need to strengthen its diplomatic support.

Vladimir Fesenko, Facebook