The European Union intends to lift sanctions against Syria, said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas upon her arrival at a meeting of EU foreign and defence ministers on Tuesday.
“I hope that the European Union countries will reach an agreement to lift sanctions against Syria today,” Kallas said.
US President Donald Trump announced on May 13 his intention to lift sanctions against Syria to “give it a chance.” He noted that he was prompted to make this decision by a conversation about the situation in the Arab Republic with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. US sanctions “were tough and crippling,” but they served an important purpose, Trump said.
Earlier, The Times reported that the Syrian authorities were ready to make a number of concessions in order to lift the US sanctions imposed during Bashar al-Assad’s presidency. Damascus may offer Trump an agreement on access for US companies to develop natural resources in Syria, similar to the Ukrainian deal.
