Prime Minister David Cameron, pictured today at the Scottish Conservative conference, urged the Russian to stop bombing in Syria
David Cameron has joined other EU leaders in a conference call pleading with Vladimir Putin to stop bombing civilians in Syria.
The Prime Minister took part in the call alongside French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian PM Matteo Renzi.
Russian bombing has threatened the fragile and limited ceasefire in Syria's civil war amid concerns the Kremlin is continuing to launch attacks far beyond ISIS-held territory.
The call is the first time Mr Cameron will have spoken to Mr Putin since a UK inquiry found that the Russian president probably ordered the murder of former agent Alexander Litvinenko in London
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said today: 'The PM told him that everyone has a common interest in defeating Daesh (ISIS) and that it is therefore in all our interests to support a peace process that can lead to a stable inclusive government that has the support of all Syrians.’
‘Putin said they were committed to complying with the cessation of hostilities.
'That needs to hold as we move towards peace talks,’ the spokesman said.
‘We need to seize this opportunity and grab it, otherwise the prospects are bleak.’
EU leaders also warned Mr Putin directly to halt the indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas blamed for fuelling the migration crisis.
No 10 said: ‘There was a very clear message from EU leaders to make sure that civilians are not being targeted or bombed.’
Mr Cameron also warned Mr Putin that any peace settlement would have to involve a ‘transition away from (Bashar) Assad’.
But No 10 said Russia’s support for Syria’s hated dictator would be ‘one of the trickiest points in discussions’.
No 10 said leaders had also reached a tentative agreement to use the truce to allow aid into besieged towns where civilians are reported to be starving.
On the 50 minute call, the European leaders told Mr Putin they welcomed the cessation of hostilities in Syria over the past week.
They said they wanted to seize the opportunity to create a 'positive dynamic' for UN-sponsored peace talks due to start in Geneva next week, leading to a political transition to a new administration to replace the regime of Moscow protege Bashar Assad.
Russia began its bombing campaign in Syria last year, officially to attack ISIS but in practice launching huge attacks on civilian areas held by rebels opposed to president Bashar Assad.
Activists claim Russia launched more than a dozen airstrikes on behalf on the Assad regime on districts in Aleppo and in the surrounding countryside on Saturday and Sunday – the first two days of the United Nations brokered truce.
Francois Hollande and Angela Merkel, pictured together today at the Elysee Palace in Paris, were also on the call to Vladimir Putin
Film footage allegedly showing Russian aircraft dropping bombs on a village in Aleppo province on Saturday – the first day of the ceasefire – has been posted by anti-government activists.
Syrian activists have told the BBC that the Russian airstrikes north of Aleppo were targeting Nusra Front fighters, who are allied to Al Qaeda.
The truce – which began at 0001 on Saturday – involves Syrian government and moderate rebel forces.
Mr Cameron told the House of Commons on Wednesday that the cessation of hostilities was 'an important step forward, imperfect though it is, and it does enable the possibility of political negotiations starting next week'.
He added: 'Even though the ceasefire is imperfect, the fact that we have it is progress.
'Not every group is included in the ceasefire, but basically we are not seeing the attacks that were taking place on the moderate opposition, which is welcome.
'It has also enabled us, with others, to get aid to communities that desperately need it, including through air drops and convoys.
'I would not put too much optimism into the mix right now, but this is progress and we should work on it.'
The European leaders told Mr Putin the ceasefire could create a 'positive dynamic' and help end the long running civil war in Syria
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