„What I heard is 100 percent lies and propaganda. It‘s 100 percent cruelty and cynicism. And so we have to end it. We need a real ceasefire,“ Ayrault said.

Ayrault added that widespread destruction in the country during its six-year-long civil war was „not a fantasy“, and thanked China – like France, a permanent member of the U.N. security council – for its „independent and wise position“.