The Syrian Arab Republic (SAR) decided on Wednesday to recognize the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, a spokesman for the Syrian MFA said.
"Embodying the common will and desire to establish relations in all spheres, the Syrian Arab Republic has decided to recognize the independence and sovereignty of the Lugansk People's Republic (LNR) and the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR)," the statement of the foreign ministry quoted by the SANA Syrian news agency reads.
The statement indicated that "contacts will be established with each of the two countries [the LNR and DNR] to agree on a framework for strengthening relations, including the establishment of diplomatic relations in accordance with established norms."
On June 16, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reportedly announced during a meeting with a DNR delegation that he had officially started the procedure for recognizing the DNR.
Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that Russia would welcome the recognition of the DNR and LNR by Syria or any other countries.
Apart from Russia, the DPR and LPR have just recently acknowledged South Ossetia and Abkhazia as fully recognized republics.
Damascus declared in February 2022 that it backed Russia’s recognition of the DNR and LNR. The government of Bashar al-Assad also gave Moscow the assurance that it would think about recognizing these “republics.”
