France urges Russia to join peace push after Syria strike

This image provided by the Department of Defense was presented at the Pentagon briefing on Saturday, April 14, 2018, and shows areas targeted in Syria by the U.S.-led coalition in response to Syria's use of chemical weapons on April 7.

This image provided by the Department of Defense was presented at the Pentagon briefing on Saturday, April 14, 2018, and shows areas targeted in Syria by the U.S.-led coalition in response to Syria's use of chemical weapons on April 7.   | Photo Credit: AP

France is urging Russia to participate in the coordinated push for a political solution in Syria after joint U.S., French and British attacks on Syrian chemical weapons sites.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in an interview published Sunday in the Journal du Dimanche newspaper that “we should join our efforts to promote a political process in Syria that would allow a way out of the crisis.”

France has continued to talk regularly with Russia even as East-West tensions have grown. French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, hours before the Western missile strikes.

Western countries blamed Syria’s government for a chemical attack on a rebel-held area earlier this month that killed more than 40 people. The Syrian government and its ally Russia denied the allegations.