From the Liveblog of
Monday, May 12, 2025
Trump says US ‘may very well’ lift sanctions on Syria, give them a ‘fresh start’
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
US President Donald Trump hails Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and thanks him for hosting direct talks between Russia and Ukraine on Thursday.
He tells reporters during a White House press conference that he may even fly to Turkey to join those talks. He is flying to Saudi Arabia later today, and will be in Qatar and the UAE on Thursday.
Trump says Erdogan and others have asked him to lift US sanctions on Syria.
“We have to make a decision on the sanctions, which we may very well relieve. We may take them off of Syria because we want to give them a fresh start,” Trump says.
Turkey is the largest foreign backer of the new Islamist regime in Syria led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led the overthrow of dictator Bashar Assad.
Israel has cautioned the US against warming up to Erdogan and the new regime in Syria.
The Times of Israel Community.