WP announced the EU's intention to ease the sanctions preventing the restoration of Syria

The European Union (EU) is ready to come to an agreement on easing sanctions against Syria in order to restore it as soon as possible and limit Russia's influence in the region. This was reported on January 24 by the American newspaper The Washington Post (WP) with reference to EU diplomats and documents.

"The approach should be phased, that is, the easing of sanctions should be linked to positive developments. If we see that the opposite is happening, the European Union should be ready to change the situation. This is our leverage," said the head of EU diplomacy, Kaya Kallas, in an interview with the publication.

According to the material, the EU foreign ministers will discuss this issue next week in Brussels. It is noted that the condition for easing sanctions is for the Syrian authorities to demonstrate respect for the rights of women, as well as ethnic and religious minorities.

One of the EU diplomats told the newspaper that the purpose of the potential decision of the European Union is to maintain leverage on the Syrian authorities in order to stop their possible deviation from the democratic political course.

It is also beneficial for the European Union to be able to counter Russia's influence in Syria in this way, the publication says.

"Another justification for the easing of sanctions, noted in the documents, is that rehabilitation and reconstruction may encourage some of the millions of Syrian refugees who sought asylum in Europe to return," the newspaper concluded.

Before that, on January 17, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin said that Russia will continue to support Syria in stabilizing the situation in the country, but it is up to the Syrians themselves to determine its future. He added that Moscow sincerely wishes the Syrian people to successfully overcome all the challenges that have arisen in connection with the current transition period.

On the same day, it was reported that the German authorities would pay href="https://iz.ru/1824152/2025-01-17/vlasti-germanii-vyplatiat-eu17-tys-zhelaiushchim-vernutsia-v-siriiu-migrantam">€ 1,700 migrants who want to return to Syria. In addition to one-time support, migrants can apply to the BAMF (Federal Office for Migration and Refugees) to cover air tickets and other transportation costs that are funded by the government.

Earlier, on January 6, German Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock stated that Germany will provide financial assistance Syria only on condition that the new government of the country respects the rights of women and minorities.

Prior to that, on December 19, the Russian leader noted that Russia has generally achieved its goals in Syria. Putin noted that this is confirmed by the internal changes even of those groups in Syria that in the past fought with the government of the renounced Assad. As a result The United States and many European countries now want to establish relations with them, the Russian president added.

The situation in Syria has worsened as a result of a major attack armed formations in Aleppo and Idlib, which began on November 28 and led to the retaliatory actions of the Syrian army against the militants.