France and Russia discuss Syria co-operation

Russian president Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron have discussed co-operating more closely to resolve the Syrian crisis, as France tries to smooth ties with Russia and move beyond years of tension over Syria and Ukraine.

Mr Macron spoke to Mr Putin by phone as the French leader prepares to attend the St Petersburg Economic Forum in May. The Kremlin said Mr Putin and Mr Macron underlined the need for closer co-operation on Syria.

Mr Macron’s office said he pushed for more robust Syrian peace talks. The French president also pressed Mr Putin to stop “intolerable degradation of the humanitarian situation” in regions of Syria that were pummelled by Syrian and Russian air strikes in recent days.