Paris (France) (AFP) – French President Emmanuel Macron told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during a telephone call Friday he wanted to “intensify” talks on bringing peace to Syria, Macron’s office said.

“The president of the Republic said he wanted the dialogue between France and Russia to continue and intensify in order to bring peace and stability to Syria,” the French presidency said after the call, which came as the West ponders possible strikes on Syria in retaliation for a suspected chemical attack.