US President Donald Trump says he’s ready to ease sanctions on Syria. He won’t be able to do it quickly. The American leader sat down with Syrian counterpart Ahmed Al-Sharaa in Riyadh on Wednesday — the first meeting between heads of the two countries in 25 years — after unexpectedly saying he would drop all sanctions against the war-ravaged country and even look to normalize relations.

the decision - which will boost a country devastated by 13 years of war - took many in the region by surprise.

Removing U.S. sanctions that cut Syria off from the global financial system will clear the way for greater engagement by humanitarian organisations working in Syria, easing foreign investment and tra...