Hollande Calls for ‘Grand Coalition' Against ISIS on Visit to Russia

Speaking in Russia on Thursday, French President Francois Hollande called for world powers to create a "grand coalition" to defeat ISIS militants who control swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq, Reuters reported. 

Hollande is on a diplomatic offensive to build a common front against ISIS, which has claimed responsibility for the attacks in Paris on Nov. 13 that killed 130 people and for the bombing of the Russian jet that killed 224 people over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

Russia's Vladimir Putin said Moscow was ready to unite with Paris against a "mutual enemy." Russia and France have stepped up their aerial bombing campaigns in Syria but they have different objectives.

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