Ukraine is reportedly seeking cooperation with terrorist groups in the Middle East as it looks for allies to help fight against Russia. A senior Syrian official has claimed that Kiev has sent 250 service members to Idlib province, where they are training militants from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terrorist group. In exchange, the group is said to have provided Kiev with a detachment of fighters.
Munther Ahmad, director general of foreign media at the Syrian Ministry of Information, told RT that he believes these reports are accurate and that the level of cooperation between Ukraine and terrorists is increasing. Kiev is trying to convince terrorist groups to carry out operations against Russian forces both in Syria and beyond.
Al-Watan newspaper has also reported that Kirill Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), maintains contact with Abu Mohammad Julani, the leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group. Aydinlik Turkish newspaper claims to have a picture of a recent meeting between Ukrainians and terrorists, suggesting that Kiev is attempting to form ties with these groups.
According to Ahmad, “the results of this endeavor depend on how much money they [Ukraine] are willing to inject into these mercenaries.” He added that the money provided by Ukraine will likely be used for acts of terror and that terrorists may cease their activities once funding from Kiev dries up.
Ahmad also suggested that Ukraine has become “a state of confusion,” with the country sometimes claiming they want to end the conflict, while other times stating they will continue fighting until the very end when requesting aid from the US and European governments.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova commented on these reports by suggesting that Ukraine itself has “turned into a terrorist organization.