France accuses Russia of 'lying' about its role in Syrian conflict and risks being 'complicit' in atrocities

'There is double-talk and a sort of permanent lie,' says the country's foreign minister

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault speaks at the United Nations Security Council (AFP/Getty Images)

The French foreign minister has accused Russia of "lying" about the nature of its role in the Syrian conflict, and said Moscow risked being complicit in violent acts of "vengeance and terror" in Aleppo.

Jean-Marc Ayrault has claimed Russia and President Vladimir Putin are guilty of “double-talk and a sort of permanent lie" while professing to prioritise the fight against IS militants over support for President Bashar al-Assad.

"On the one hand they say: let's talk, let's talk and get a cease-fire," Mr Ayrault said at an EU meeting in Brussels. "On the other hand, they continue the war and this war is a total war, aimed at saving Assad and capturing Aleppo. There is double-talk and a sort of permanent lie.”

No progress was made during talks between the US and Russia over the weekend, which were aimed at preventing Aleppo being “completely destroyed” as government forces cleared out the last remaining rebel strongholds in the city.

On Tuesday morning, the UN reported that militia forces loyal to President Assad entered homes in east Aleppo and killed at least 82 civilians. Russia has yet to respond to the reports.

“The backers of the [Assad] regime, starting with Russia, cannot allow this logic of vengeance and terror without taking the risk of being complicit,” the foreign minister added.

“I call on the United Nations to use without delay all mechanisms to establish the truth of what is happening in Aleppo so that the international community does not let crimes remain unpunished.”

In October, Mr Ayrault confirmed he was planning to ask the International Court of Justice to investigate Russia over possible war crimes in Syria. Russia has denied such allegations.

"We do not agree with what Russia is doing, bombarding Aleppo. France is committed as never before to saving the population of Aleppo," Mr Ayrault said at the time.

A day later, President Putin cancelled his planned trip to Paris after the French government made it clear that the Syrian conflict would be the only item on the agenda.