Ukraine has severed diplomatic ties with Syria after the country became the first nation to recognize the separatist-controlled areas in Donbas.
Following the development, Ukraine announced Thursday that it has cut ties with Syria after Damascus.
Syria had on Wednesday recognized the independence of the pro-Russia separatist-controlled Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic.
The Ukrainian foreign ministry on Thursday said it strongly condemns Syria’s decision to recognize “the so-called independence of the temporarily occupied territories in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.”
Ukraine said it considered Syria’s decision as an unfriendly act against it and an encroachment on its sovereignty and territorial integrity and a gross violation of Ukrainian law, the UN Charter, and the fundamental norms and principles of international law.
Syria is the only country aside from Russia to formally recognize the independence of the breakaway regions.
“In response to this unfriendly act, Ukraine declares the severance of diplomatic relations with Syria without the severance of consular relations, in accordance with Article 2 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations done in Vienna on 24 April 1963,” the ministry said.
Furthermore, the foreign ministry said that it will impose a trade embargo, as well as other sanctions, on Syria.