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.

French President Emmanuel Macron will meet his Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday, marking the first European visit for the former rebel.

PARIS — Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa is visiting Paris on Wednesday for talks with President Emmanuel Macron . It’s his first trip to Europe since taking office in January, and a possible opening to broader ties with Western countries.