Putin cancels visit to Paris after Hollande’s remarks

Russian president Vladimir Putin has cancelled his scheduled visit to Paris after remarks made by French president François Hollande implying that the former should be tried before the International Criminal Court at the Hague for his role in Syria. In an official communiqué the Kremlin accused France of wanting to “humiliate” the Russian leader on his visit.

In an interview recorded earlier but only broadcast on TV last night, Hollande wondered aloud whether he should receive Putin in Paris.

“I ask myself…Is it useful?” Hollande said during the interview. “Is it necessary? Can it be a way of exerting pressure? Can we get him to stop what he is doing with the Syrian regime?

“If I receive him, it will be to tell him that it’s unacceptable (bombing Aleppo) that it’s very serious for Russia’s image…

“Those who commit these acts will have to take responsibility for them including before the International Criminal Court (ICC).”

France has taken umbrage at Russia’s veto of a UN Security Council resolution introduced by France which called on Russia to “immediately halt” its bombing of rebel positions in Aleppo.

According to inside sources, there was relief inside the Quai d’Orsay at the Russian cancellation as France’s foreign ministry would have difficulty in managing the fallout from Hollande’s remarks.

Britain too is intensifying anti-Russian rhetoric and will have an emergency debate later today (Tuesday) on whether Western air forces should confront Russian fighters flying over Syria in the no-fly zone.