Ukraine announced it is severing ties with Syria following its announcement on Wednesday that it is recognizing�the �independence and sovereignty� of Ukraine�s eastern Luhansk and Donetsk regions and contacts will be established to set up diplomatic relations.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry announcement came days after President Bashar Assad met with a joint delegation from both regions in Damascus.

Earlier this month, Russia claimed to have taken control of 97% of one of the two provinces that make up Ukraine�s Donbas, bringing the Kremlin closer to its goal of fully capturing the eastern industrial heartland of coal mines and factories.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Moscow�s forces hold nearly all of Luhansk province. And it appears that Russia now occupies roughly half of Donetsk province, according to Ukrainian officials and military analysts.

Syria is a strong ally of Russia, which joined Syria�s conflict in September 2015 helping tip the balance of power in favor of Assad�s favor.

The brief Foreign Ministry statement carried by Syrian state news agency SANA on Wednesday gave no further details.

�The Syrian Arab Republic has decided to recognize the independence and sovereignty of the Luhansk People�s Republic and the Donetsk People�s Republic,� the statement, quoting an unnamed official, said.

It added that contacts are ongoing with both regions �to strengthen relations including setting up diplomatic relations.�

After abandoning its bungled attempt to storm Ukraine� capital of Kyiv two months ago, Russia declared that taking the entire Donbas is its main objective. Moscow-backed separatists have been battling Ukrainian government forces in the Donbas since 2014, and the region has borne the brunt of the Russian onslaught in recent weeks.

(YWN Israel Desk � Jerusalem & AP)