Україна та арабські держави Леванту (Сирія, Ліван, Йорданія): передумови та обставини встановлення дипломатичних відносин

The article sheds the light on preconditions and circumstances of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the exchange of diplomatic missions between Ukraine and the Arab states of the Levant (Syria, Lebanon, Jordan). Characterizing the efforts of the young independent Ukrainian state, aimed at building relations with these countries, the author discovers both objective and subjective reasons of protracted establishment of the Levant state's diplomatic presence in Ukraine. At the same time, using a wide range of first published sources from Ukraine embassies in these countries, the author shows difficult conditions of the Ukrainian diplomats work, describes the process of opening diplomatic missions, defines the failures of Ukrainian diplomacy and the Levant leaders' official position toward Ukraine at that time. Despite a large number of publications on the Ukrainian Middle East policy and its perspectives, this article for the first time shows the history of formation of bilateral relations between Ukraine and the Levant states from the very beginning - the declaration of the Ukrainian independence.