Russia found rare support for its war in Ukraine from Syria, whose leadership has relied on Moscow’s support in its civil war, at the UN General Assembly on Monday.

“Syria reaffirms its position on Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine and Russia’s right to defend and secure its own territory,” Foreign Minister Faisal al-Meqdad told the world body.

“We are convinced that the Russian Federation is defending not only itself, but also the right of justice and humanity to reject unipolar hegemony.”

Syria has sided with Russia for months, recognizing Russian-backed breakaway republics in eastern Ukraine and offering to send Syrian troops to fight alongside Russia.

Russia has provided extensive military support to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad since 2015, helping government forces retake most of the country from the opposition and jihadists after a decade of brutal conflict killed half a million people.

The top Syrian diplomat’s robust support for the invasion of Ukraine contrasted with speeches by other nominal Russian partners during the annual general assembly, which ends on Monday.

China, which pledged full cooperation with Russia before the war, and India, a historic defense partner of Moscow despite growing ties with Washington, both called for dialogue to end the conflict in Ukraine.

But the junta-appointed interim prime minister of Mali, Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, hailed the “exemplary and fruitful cooperation” with Russia, whose Wagner Group security firm is based in the West African country despite Western warnings about the unit’s human rights record.