Ukraine is following with concern the aggravation of hostilities in the Syrian Arab Republic, which is resulting in the loss of lives, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and a worsening social, economic, and humanitarian situation. The Syrian state is going through a new dangerous phase of the war, which could lead to unpredictable consequences for regional peace and security.

Over thirteen years of the war in Syria have brought incredible pain and suffering to the people of this country. More than half a million Syrians have lost their lives, and millions of Syrian citizens have become refugees and forcibly displaced persons.

The Syrian people with its rich religious and ethno-confessional diversity deserve a dignified life in a free, modern, democratic country, where there is no room for political repression and tyranny, terrorism, religious extremism and fundamentalism, where the rule of law and respect for human rights prevail.

The suffering and hardship of the Syrians became the result of the rule of the criminal regime of Bashar Assad, which for decades has not only pursued a ruthless policy of suppressing its own people but has also turned the territory of Syria into a training ground for other criminal regimes — Russian and Iranian, as well as their proxy forces, particularly Hezbollah.

Ukraine and Ukrainians like no one else know that these regimes bring only death, suffering and destruction. Back in 2016, the criminal Assad regime recognized Russia's annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, and after the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, it actively assisted the Russian invaders by sending mercenaries to wage war against the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine.

Nowadays, not a single night passes without Ukrainians being under threat because of the airstrikes with Iranian "Shahed" drones which Russia uses to make the lives of civilians unbearable. The enhanced military-technical cooperation between Russia and Iran is already destabilizing the security situation in both Europe and the Middle East.

It is Moscow and Tehran who bear the main responsibility for the degradation of the security situation in Syria. The horrific crimes committed by the regimes of Assad, Putin, and the Iranian ayatollahs against the Syrian people have jeopardized Syria's survival as a unified independent state.

Russian dictator Putin and his allies in Iran continue to make every effort not to lose control over the puppet Syrian regime, which most Syrians associate with inhuman cruelty, tyranny, and crimes.

We are convinced that the path to a stable, free and democratic Syria lies through the implementation of the provisions of UN Security Council resolutions 2254 and 2118, as well as a nationwide inclusive dialogue.

In this extremely difficult time for the Syrian people, it is crucial to maintain unity and integrity of Syria as a state and ensure Syrians peace, stability, and a chance for the swift end of the prolonged armed conflict.