Michelle Martin

Just a few months ago, Syria's new president was on the United States list of designated terrorists.

Just a few months ago, Syria's new president was on the United States list of designated terrorists.

I'm Michelle Martin, that's A. Martinez, and this is Up First from NPR News. Russia and Ukraine are scheduled to hold peace talks this week. Still unclear as whether President Trump will attend. Ukraine's president questions whether Putin will either.

I'm Michelle Martin, that's A. Martinez, and this is Up First from NPR News. Russia and Ukraine are scheduled to hold peace talks this week. Still unclear as whether President Trump will attend. Ukraine's president questions whether Putin will either.

I'm Michelle Martin, that's A. Martinez, and this is Up First from NPR News. Russia and Ukraine are scheduled to hold peace talks this week. Still unclear as whether President Trump will attend. Ukraine's president questions whether Putin will either.

To talk about this and more, we're joined by NPR's Aya Batraoui in Riyadh. Hi, Aya. Good morning. Good morning, Michelle. So how significant is Trump's decision to lift sanctions on Syria?

To talk about this and more, we're joined by NPR's Aya Batraoui in Riyadh. Hi, Aya. Good morning. Good morning, Michelle. So how significant is Trump's decision to lift sanctions on Syria?

To talk about this and more, we're joined by NPR's Aya Batraoui in Riyadh. Hi, Aya. Good morning. Good morning, Michelle. So how significant is Trump's decision to lift sanctions on Syria?

So, you know, we heard those cheers in the room, but is anybody not on board with this decision to lift sanctions? Yeah.

So, you know, we heard those cheers in the room, but is anybody not on board with this decision to lift sanctions? Yeah.

So, you know, we heard those cheers in the room, but is anybody not on board with this decision to lift sanctions? Yeah.

OK, so we know that President Trump had been planning to focus on business deals while he's in the region. How have those deals been shaping up?

OK, so we know that President Trump had been planning to focus on business deals while he's in the region. How have those deals been shaping up?

OK, so we know that President Trump had been planning to focus on business deals while he's in the region. How have those deals been shaping up?

Yes, we cannot forget that. So President Trump is heading to Qatar next. What's on the agenda there?

Yes, we cannot forget that. So President Trump is heading to Qatar next. What's on the agenda there?

Yes, we cannot forget that. So President Trump is heading to Qatar next. What's on the agenda there?

That is NPR's Aya Batraoui in Riyadh. Aya, thank you. Thanks, Michelle.

That is NPR's Aya Batraoui in Riyadh. Aya, thank you. Thanks, Michelle.

That is NPR's Aya Batraoui in Riyadh. Aya, thank you. Thanks, Michelle.