clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

France, Germany blast Russia for Aleppo bombardment

October 20, 2016 at 12:09 pm

Syrians clear the debris to rescue people from a wreckage after War crafts belonging to the Russian army carried out an airstrilke over opposition controlled residential areas in Aleppo, Syria on October 17, 2016. ( Ahmed al Ahmed – Anadolu Agency )

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been blasted by France and Germany for his country’s bombing campaign in the Syrian city of Aleppo.

Meeting yesterday in Berlin, French President Francoise Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel also refused to rule out imposing sanctions on Russia for its actions in the Middle East.

“What is happening in Aleppo is a war crime, one of the first demands is that the bombardments by the regime and its backers must end,” Hollande said after the meeting.

Calling Russia’s campaign “inhumane and cruel”, Merkel condemned the air raids on Aleppo and warned that imposing sanctions on Russia would not be ruled out.

“Everything that can constitute a threat can be useful,” Hollande said at a press conference. “We cannot remove this option,” Merkel added.

Putin appears to be ready to extend the truce in Aleppo that has come into effect this morning and will last 11 hours. “We came out of the meeting with the impression that there could be an extension of the truce, but it’s up to the Syrian regime and Russia to show it,” Hollande explained.

However the short truce-window is not long enough to deliver necessary aid and to allow citizens to leave the city.

Opposition-held Aleppo has been under heavy bombardment since the Syrian military commanded by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad announced an offensive last month to regain control of the city.