Hollande to Urge Putin on Common Terror Targets as Splits Remain
- 9 years ago
French President Francois Hollande heads to Moscow Thursday to discuss combating Islamic State militants in Syria with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, as expectations fade of a united front involving Russia and the U.S. following a wave of terrorist attacks.
Before leaving Paris, Hollande, who met with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington on Tuesday, reiterated French demands for the eventual ouster of beleaguered Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has been bolstered by a two-month bombing campaign by Russia.
His meeting with Putin aims to "draw all the lessons" of the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris that killed 130 people, Hollande told reporters Thursday.
France sees no possibility of forming a coalition with Russia because that would mean sharing intelligence and a joint command, according to a French official with knowledge of his strategy.
Before leaving Paris, Hollande, who met with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington on Tuesday, reiterated French demands for the eventual ouster of beleaguered Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has been bolstered by a two-month bombing campaign by Russia.
His meeting with Putin aims to "draw all the lessons" of the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris that killed 130 people, Hollande told reporters Thursday.
France sees no possibility of forming a coalition with Russia because that would mean sharing intelligence and a joint command, according to a French official with knowledge of his strategy.