Putin shuns Paris visit after France offers talks only on Syria - Reuters

REUTERS

"There were contacts between the Kremlin and the Elysee this morning to offer to Putin a working visit on Syria, but excluding all other events that President Hollande could have taken part in," the source said, according to Reuters.

"In response to this proposal, Russia has just indicated that it wants to postpone the visit planned on October 19," said the source.

Read alsoKremlin: Putin, Poroshenko, Merkel, Hollande to meet on Oct 19The Russian leader was scheduled to inaugurate a new Russian Orthodox cathedral and visit a Russian art exhibition in the French capital.

As UNIAN reported earlier, German Chancellor Angela Merkel invited the three other Normandy Four leaders for a dinner in Berlin October 19.