Russia has sent 100,000 tonnes of wheat to Syria since start of 2020: Lavrov

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Russia has sent 100,000 tonnes of wheat in humanitarian aid to Syria since the beginning of this year and plans to ship more wheat to the war-stricken country.

Lavrov said during a briefing on Thursday that Moscow plans to ship more in coming weeks and months.

Russia, one of the world's largest exporters of wheat, has been supporting Syria in its efforts to ease the food shortage in the Arab country.

In October, Syria’s economy minister said his country needed to import between 180,000 tonnes and 200,000 tonnes of wheat a month. He blamed the shortfall on Western-backed militant groups preventing farmers from selling their wheat to the state.

Lavrov also said concrete actions were being currently discussed to rebuild the Syrian economy.

"In terms of goals of rebuilding the Syrian economy, we have already had very significant decisions taken in recent weeks that will significantly enhance Syria's ability to organize (this) work in a systematic manner," Interfax quoted the top Russian diplomat  as saying.

Russia imports first lot of tomatoes from Syria as Turkey ban stays in place

A Russian company has imported the first lot of tomatoes from Syria as Moscow keeps its restrictions on importing some food items from Turkey.

Since 1979, the war-torn Arab country has been under rounds of unilateral and crippling economic sanctions by the United States. Syria has also been battling a foreign-backed militancy over the past years.

In April, Syria’s Ambassador to the United Nations Bashar al-Ja’afari sent a letter to the world body, reiterating a call by Damascus for the immediate and unconditional lifting of all US economic sanctions.

Russian Ambassador to Damascus Aleksandr Yefimov, for his part, also called for the lifting of sanctions against Syria, stressing that the restrictive measures obstruct the Arab country’s battle against the novel coronavirus pandemic.

US imposes new sanctions on war-torn Syria

The US imposes new sanctions on the war-torn Syria in a bid to increase pressure on the Damascus government.

The coercive measures have blocked imports of essential goods, impacting the Syrian people’s access to medical equipment, food, heating, gas, and electricity.

The US and its allies invaded Syria in 2014 under the pretext of dislodging Daesh. The coalition sustains its presence, although Damascus and its allies defeated the Takfiri terrorist outfit in late 2017.

Iran, Russia, China denounce US sanctions targeting war-ravaged Syrian economy

Moscow, Tehran, Beijing and Damascus rap the US for imposing new crippling sanctions against war-ravaged Syrian economy.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian government says the Israeli regime and its Western and regional allies are aiding Takfiri terrorist groups that are wreaking havoc in the country.

The government forces have already managed to undo militant gains across the country and bring back almost all Syrian soil under the government control.

The government gains in Syria have enraged the US, which has long been collaborating with anti-Damascus militants and stealing Syria’s crude resources.

In recent months, Syria's economy has further been strained by a financial crisis in neighboring Lebanon.

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