France's president said on Wednesday he would urge the EU to end sanctions on Syria when they come up for renewal in June and lobby the U.S. to follow suit as well as keep its troops there to ensure Syria's stability.

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron called on the United States and the European Union to lift sanctions against Syria on Wednesday after hosting the Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on his first visit to Europe.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday received Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa during his first visit to Europe, in a meeting to reaffirm France’s support for Syria’s political transition.