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Vladimir Putin postpones Paris talks on Syria Vladimir Putin postpones Paris talks on Syria
(35 minutes later)
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, will not visit Paris next week after declining to meet François Hollande for talks on Syria, a source in the French president’s office has said, in the latest deterioration of ties between Moscow and the west. Vladimir Putin will not visit Paris next week after declining to meet François Hollande solely for talks on Syria, in the latest deterioration of ties between Moscow and the west.
French officials have been looking for ways to put pressure on Russia after Moscow vetoed a French-drafted UN security council resolution on Syria. Their growing anger at what has been taking place in the rebel-held areas of Aleppo had led them to reconsider whether to host Putin on 19 October.French officials have been looking for ways to put pressure on Russia after Moscow vetoed a French-drafted UN security council resolution on Syria. Their growing anger at what has been taking place in the rebel-held areas of Aleppo had led them to reconsider whether to host Putin on 19 October.
“There were contacts between the Kremlin and the Élysée this morning to offer to Putin a working visit on Syria, but excluding all other events that president Hollande could have taken part in,” the source said. “The president made the decision to cancel his visit,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “The president noted that he is ready to visit Paris at a time convenient for Hollande. We will wait for this convenient time to come.”
“In response to this proposal, Russia has just indicated that it wants to postpone the visit.” A source in the French president’s office said: “There were contacts between the Kremlin and the Élysée this morning to offer to Putin a working visit on Syria, but excluding all other events that president Hollande could have taken part in. In response to this proposal, Russia has just indicated that it wants to postpone the visit.”
The Russian leader was due to inaugurate a new Russian Orthodox cathedral and visit a Russian art exhibition in the French capital.The Russian leader was due to inaugurate a new Russian Orthodox cathedral and visit a Russian art exhibition in the French capital.
While France has said it is vital to keep dialogue going with Moscow and not cut ties, events in Syria have damaged relations, with the two parties supporting opposite sides in the conflict.While France has said it is vital to keep dialogue going with Moscow and not cut ties, events in Syria have damaged relations, with the two parties supporting opposite sides in the conflict.
On Monday, the French foreign minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, said his diplomats were working to find a way for the International Criminal Court prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, to launch an investigation into what France says are war crimes committed by Syrian and Russian forces in eastern Aleppo. On Monday the French foreign minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, said his diplomats were working to find a way for the international criminal court prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, to launch an investigation into what France says are war crimes committed by Syrian and Russian forces in eastern Aleppo.
Diplomats said Paris was leading discussions on whether to impose new EU sanctions on Russia specifically over Syria, where Moscow backs the president, Bashar al-Assad.Diplomats said Paris was leading discussions on whether to impose new EU sanctions on Russia specifically over Syria, where Moscow backs the president, Bashar al-Assad.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Russian ambassador to France, Alexander Orlov, had said Putin still wanted to come to France as planned on 19 October.Earlier on Tuesday, the Russian ambassador to France, Alexander Orlov, had said Putin still wanted to come to France as planned on 19 October.
“I think dialogue needs to continue and we are here to talk, especially in difficult moments,” Orlov told Europe 1 radio.“I think dialogue needs to continue and we are here to talk, especially in difficult moments,” Orlov told Europe 1 radio.
British MPs will participate in an emergency debate on Tuesday, in which the former cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell will say western air forces must be willing to confront Russian military jets over Syria to enforce a no-fly zone.British MPs will participate in an emergency debate on Tuesday, in which the former cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell will say western air forces must be willing to confront Russian military jets over Syria to enforce a no-fly zone.