Zelensky ordered to prepare a long-term program of food supplies to Syria and Lebanon

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has instructed the government to develop a long-term program to support the Syrian people together with international partners.

The Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Vitaliy Koval said this during a telethon.

The minister noted that Syria needs absolutely all food products, as 13 years of grueling war have led to the country’s almost no self-production. At the same time, the country’s population is 24 million people.

“Unfortunately, the agricultural sector is rather poorly represented due to climatic conditions. The available 4.4 million hectares of land suffer from drought. That is why Syria is interested in supplying not only wheat, but especially flour, vegetable oil, sugar, meat products, chicken and cattle meat from Ukraine,” Koval explained.

According to him, the governments of Ukraine and Syria have started a dialogue on this issue, and there is an understanding that such support should be stable, not one-time, long-term and predictable.

“As a country that is going through a war, we understand that it is very important to have predictability in food supply. Ukraine’s place in food security is very important. We understand the need to continue to ensure food security in the region. We are talking not only about Syria, but also about Lebanon,” Koval emphasized.

He also noted that supplying other countries with food is also a sales channel for Ukrainian farmers.

“This is actually a unique case when, by helping Ukrainian farmers grow products, the world helps solve the food problem of countries that need it,” the minister emphasized.

As reported earlier, in December 2024, Ukraine sent 21 trucks with 500 tons of wheat flour to Syria as part of the Grain from Ukraine program with the assistance of the UN World Food Program. It will be distributed to 33,250 families or 167,000 people. Each package weighs 15 kg and will help feed a family of five for a month.

Tags: grain, Syria, Lebanon, food security, Ukraine