Zelenskyy, Turkey and Syria discuss war and reconstruction

They were received at the Presidential Palace by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

According to Anadolu Agency, the discussions are expected to center on joint efforts to rebuild Syria, as well as key regional issues—such as bringing northeastern Syria more firmly under central government control and addressing the effects of nearby conflicts in Iran and Lebanon.

In a post on X, Zelenskyy said he and President al-Sharaa discussed both the conflicts in the Middle East and the ongoing war in Ukraine. He added there is “strong interest in exchanging military and security experience” between Ukraine and Syria.

Zelenskyy arrived in Damascus from Turkey, where he had met with Fidan to discuss peace efforts in Ukraine and the possibility of a leaders’ summit in Istanbul. He also noted that new defense agreements between Turkey and Ukraine could be signed soon.

For Fidan, this marks his first visit to Syria since December 22, 2025, when he traveled there alongside Turkey’s defense minister Yasar Guler and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin.