During Russian President Vladimir Putin visit to the Mariamite Cathedral of Damascus on 7 January 2020, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad mentioned in a video aired on Russia-1, the legend of Paul the Apostle who became a Christian at the gate of Damascus, and added jokingly: "If Trump arrives along this road, everything will become normal with him too", Putin later told Al-Assad to invite Trump to Damascus, while Al-Assad replied: "I am ready", then Putin said that he would convey the invitation.