Russia prepared to extend 'pause' in Syria, West mulls sanctions

BERLIN, GERMANY – OCTOBER 19: German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) meets with President of Russia Vladimir Putin (R) for the summit on Ukrainian and Syrian issues where Normandy Four Leaders participate at Chancellery in Berlin, Germany on October 19, 2016. ( Maurizio Gambarini – Anadolu Agency )

Germany and France pressed Russian President Vladimir Putin to extend a pause in airstrikes in Syria at late night talks in Berlin that Chancellor Angela Merkel described as difficult.

“A respite of a few hours makes no sense,” French President Francois Hollande told a joint news conference with Merkel after the talks. “The main point is that the population of Aleppo … cannot continue to live in conditions that are unbearable.”

Merkel and Hollande said they confronted Russia about its role in the bombardment of civilians in Aleppo.

“We are talking here about criminal activities, about crimes against the civilians,” Merkel said, although she did not echo Hollande’s use of the phrase “war crimes”.

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