The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has endorsed the decision to submit proposals to the National Security and Defence Council to impose sanctions against Syria. The relevant order was adopted at a Government session on April 7, 2023.

The proposals were previously considered and recommended for submission to the NSDC by the Interagency Working Group on the Implementation of the State Sanctions Policy chaired by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yuliia Svyrydenko.

"The participation of Syrian vessels in the illegal export of grain from the occupied territory of Ukraine, the "recognition" of the so-called "DPR" and "LPR", the supply of weapons to russia that are used in the aggression against Ukraine, and the Syrian leadership's full support for the putin regime. The list of unfriendly steps taken by the Syrian Arab Republic towards Ukraine is endless. And our country is undoubtedly responding to them.

Sanctions have already been imposed on Bashar al-Assad and other Syrian leaders. Ukraine has severed diplomatic relations with the Syrian Arab Republic, and is suspending and cancelling interstate agreements concluded in previous years. Today, the Government has proposed a final tough but absolutely adequate response to Syria's position - the imposition of sectoral sanctions against the country for a period of fifty years. Thus, the issue of economic relations with Syria will be terminated for a long time," said Yuliia Svyrydenko.

According to the Government's decision, the following sanctions are proposed to be imposed against Syria:

- restrictions on trade operations in terms of a ban on export-import operations with residents of the Syrian Arab Republic, processing operations with enterprises resident in the SAR, and a ban on investments in Syria;

- complete cessation of transit of resources, flights and transportations by residents of the SAR through the territory of Ukraine;

- suspension of economic and financial obligations in favour of SAR residents, prevention of their withdrawal of capital from Ukraine;

- prohibition of registration by the NBU of an international payment system operated by a resident of the SAR, suspension of servicing of electronic payment instruments (including transfers, settlements and cash withdrawals) issued by residents of the Syrian Arab Republic,

- prohibition of transfer of technologies and intellectual property rights to residents of the Syrian Arab Republic;

- a ban on the entry of non-military vessels and warships flying the flag of the SAR into the territorial sea of Ukraine, its inland waters and ports.

The sanctions proposed by the Government will come into force after the National Security and Defence Council adopts a relevant decision, the President of Ukraine enacts it and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine approves it.