Moscow and Paris blame schedule change for cancelling visit

The Kremlin confirmed that Putin’s visit to Paris next week has now been postponed. The decision comes amid increased tensions between Russia and France over Moscow’s veto of a French Security Council draft resolution on Syria.

It is not clear why France unexpectedly shortened the program of Putin’s visit, but French diplomatic sources told Reuters that France wanted to downgrade the planned visit and cancel all events except a working meeting with President Hollande.

“There were some events scheduled, including the opening of a Russian cultural and religious center, [and] exhibitions. Unfortunately, those events were struck off the program, so the president decided to cancel his visit to France for now,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained.

Commenting on the cancelation of the visit, French President Francois Hollande said on Tuesday he was prepared to meet Putin “at any moment” to discuss Syria. But only a day earlier Hollande had said he was reluctant to meet Putin after Russia blocked a French-sponsored resolution at the UN Security Council.

On Monday, Hollande expressed doubt whether these talks were needed amid the differences with Russia over Syria.

Later France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said Hollande would only make a final decision on his personal meeting with Putin “taking into consideration the situation in Syria.”

The Elysee Palace told TASS on Tuesday that Hollande’s working schedule for the next week was not ready yet. The press service of the French president refused to confirm or deny reports on plans for talks with Putin or their possible cancellation.

The Kremlin has also announced that Putin is planning no separate meeting on Syria with the European leaders: “No, such a separate meeting is not planned,” Peskov said when asked if Putin could hold talks with European leaders on the Syrian conflict resolution.

The French wanted to impose a no-fly zone over Aleppo, but Moscow said that the resolution would protect terrorist groups in the greater portion of eastern Aleppo, under a pretext of humanitarian relief.

An alternative proposal by Russia, which would seek a deal with the group to grant them safe passage out of the city and spare its civilian population, was rejected by other members of the UNSC.

French officials accused Russia and the Assad regime of committing “war crimes” in Syria and threatened to approach the International Criminal Court to probe the allegations. It is not clear how Paris wants to deliver on the threat, considering that the ICC has no jurisdiction over Syria.