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.

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.