BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:20 P.M.) – Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad sat down with Russia’s NTV on Friday to discuss several topics affecting his country.

During the interview with NTV, Assad stated that he is open to meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, if the talks are productive and meaningful.

“We believe that discussing or talking or negotiating with your adversary and any other one else of course is productive, but in this case, it’s always since we had the first negotiations with the United States in 1974, we never achieved anything in any subject,” Assad said.

“The problem with the American presidents that they are hostages that their lobbies,” he continued.

“And Trump is a very stark example, so talking and discussing with the Americans now for no reason, for without achieving anything is a waste of time,” he stressed.

Assad stressed he does not have any problem meeting anyone, as long as it is not a waste of time.

Below is the video of Assad’s NTV interview: