“Thank You President Trump… Make Syria Great Again” billboard in Damascus

What a privilege to be back in Syria this week. Joy and relief still, but an increasing sense that the honeymoon period is ending. The intensity of the deep, interlinking & very immediate econ, pol & security challenges are coming ever more to the fore & the fragility of the situation is clear

Germany, which finally conceding general sanctions hurt wider pop, pushing for quick Syria relief - differing from Kallas who focusing on conditionality linked to transition. Euro ministers to meet at end of month to decide