U.S. President Donald Trump praised his Syrian counterpart Ahmad al-Shara after a meeting they held on Wednesday in Riyadh, describing him as a “strong attractive young man” and “wonderful,” adding that al-Shara has a “real opportunity” to maintain Syria's unity, according to CNN. Trump confirmed that “Israel was not marginalized” during his visit to the Gulf countries, noting that “good U.S. relations with the countries in the region are beneficial for Israel.”

Riyadh Meeting: Strengthening U.S.-Syrian Relations

Trump added in remarks made aboard Air Force One while heading to the Qatari capital Doha, that his meetings with al-Shara “went well,” considering that al-Shara “has a strong past.” He also hinted that Syria will eventually join the “Abraham Accords,” one of the initiatives proposed by the U.S. president during their meeting, indicating that al-Shara answered yes when asked about joining, but Trump added: “I think they (the Syrians) need to correct themselves first.”

Syria Describes the Meeting as Historic

For its part, Syria described the meeting between President Ahmad al-Shara and U.S. President Donald Trump as “historic,” and emphasized the U.S. commitment to supporting Syria during this critical phase.

According to a statement from the Syrian Foreign Ministry, “It was confirmed during the meeting the importance of lifting sanctions on Syria and supporting the recovery and reconstruction process.” The meeting also discussed ways to “enhance U.S.-Syrian partnership in combating terrorism and cooperation in eliminating the influence of non-state actors and armed groups that hinder stability, including ISIS and other threats.”

Israel's Position and Negotiations with Putin

In another context, Trump clarified that “Israel was not marginalized” during his visit to the Gulf, indicating that “having such a relationship with those countries is very beneficial for Israel.”

Trump also expressed his desire to travel to Turkey for a potential meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting that Putin “wants me to be there,” and that it is still “a possibility.” Trump asserted that his presence “could help save many lives,” but added: “I don't know if he (Putin) will attend if I'm not there.”

Putin has not yet agreed to personally attend the planned talks in Turkey on Thursday, while Ukrainian President Zelensky confirmed that he will not hold talks with any Russian representative other than Putin himself.