French President Emmanuel Macron said he would pursue the progressive lifting of European Union sanctions against Syria if Syria stuck to its current path, and added he would lobby the United States to also follow suit in this regard.

The visit by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has drawn condemnation from right-wing politicians in France. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

During the meeting, Macron will reaffirm France's support for the construction of a "free, stable and sovereign Syria that respects all the components of the Syrian society," the statement said. Sharaa in February received an invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron to visit France in the "coming weeks.