Taken together, the leaders appeared to be headed toward new coordination in what are now separate air campaigns in Syria. While France is part of the U.S.-led coalition, Russia has been primarily bombing U.S.-backed opposition forces fighting against Russian-backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
As if to buttress Putin’s remarks, Russian jets conducted a series of attacks targeting Raqqa, the de facto Islamic State capital in Syria, where U.S. and French warplanes have also been active.
But Kerry, speaking after meeting with Hollande, seemed to throw cold water on the prospect of an immediate increase in cooperation with Russia to target the militants.
He said such teamwork would have to wait for progress on negotiations over a diplomatic solution to Syria’s civil war, in which Russia backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the U.S. and allies say he must eventually step down.
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