MOSCOW- The call of French President Emmanuel Macron not to withdraw forces from Syria even after the war on terror is over is reminiscent of a colonial stance, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters in Beijing.

"I heard that most recently French President Macron called on the United States not to pull out forces from Syria even when the last terrorist is killed or expelled from the country’s territory," Lavrov said in a commentary published on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s website, according to Itar Tass.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said also at a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Monday that Russia’s and China’s consolidated line aimed at strict compliance with international agreements plays a very important role in boosting global stability.

"Russia’s and China’s consolidated policy aimed at strictly complying with international law plays a key role in strengthening stability and security in the world," he said.

According to Russia’s top diplomat, the development of strategic partnership with China is a priority of Russian foreign policy. "We expect a high intensity of contacts to be maintained this year as well," Lavrov stressed. For his part, Wang Yi noted that further strengthening of Russian-Chinese relations meets the two countries’ interests.

The Russian and Chinese foreign ministers have held a joint press conference after talks in Beijing, which were dedicated to the situation in Syria and the Korean peninsula in the wake of North Korea's decision to halt nuclear and missile tests.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has lashed out at the missile strikes carried out by the US, France and the UK on Syria, saying that they were aimed at hindering the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) investigation into the alleged use of poisonous substances in Douma, Eastern Ghouta, Sputnik reported.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has ruled out any military solution to the crisis in Syria following recent US-led airstrikes against the war-torn country.

"I think we need … to understand that there is no military solution, the solution is political. And the way for a political solution is known - it is the Resolution of the Security Council 2254, with a Communique in Geneva and it is through intra-Syrian talks between government and opposition to be able to overcome the differences that exits,” Guterres said Saturday.

The UN chief admitted, however, that "there is still a long way to go to bring together the members of the Security Council in relation to the Syrian crisis."

 Iran's nuclear chief says the Islamic Republic's response readiness will "startle" the United States should it decide to pull out of a multilateral nuclear agreement reached between Tehran and the P5+1 group of countries in 2015.

"We hope that the other side makes a wise decision and avoids carrying out an action that would cause a nuisance for itself and others," Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (IAEA) Ali Akbar Salehi told reporters on Saturday.

Moscow - Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, stated on Saturday that some Western countries continue to distort the facts about the alleged chemical attack in the city of Douma in Damascus Countryside.

Moscow is outraged at the “distortion of facts” by some Western politicians regarding the alleged chemical weapons attack in Douma, Syria, Novosti agency quoted Zakharova as saying.

Zakharova added Russia urges Western states to refrain from hindering the investigation of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) into the April 7 alleged chemical attack in Syria’s city of Douma, SANA reported.

Moscow - Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova affirmed that there are new compelling proofs that the alleged chemical attack in the city of Douma is nothing but a play and a serious media provocation, SANA reported.

In a press conference on Thursday, Zakharova said that there is increasing new proofs “floating on the surface gradually” proving that no chemical attack had occurred in Douma city.

Moscow - Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed on Tuesday that the tripartite aggression on Syria is an act of aggression and a violation of international law, including the UN Charter, SANA reported.

Putin’s remarks came during a phone call with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, according to the Kremlin.

“The two sides discussed in detail the aggravation of the situation in and around Syria. The Russian president stressed once again that the actions by a group of Western countries, which committed an act of aggression against Syria, grossly violated the norms of international law, including the UN Charter, and substantially damaged the peaceful settlement of the Syrian crisis,” the Kremlin noted.