Vladimir Putin has pledged his allegiance in fighting Islamic State terrorism during a meeting with French President Francois Hollande on Thursday.

The two world leaders sat at a media conference in the Kremlin after discussing coordinating their fight against IS forces in Syria, with Putin directing conversation to the Paris terror attacks and downing of a Russian airliner over Egypt.

Both IS-claimed attacks, which occurred within a month of each other, collectively took 350 civilian lives from Russia and France, sparking calls for global leaders to take steps in enacting counter-terrorism tactics.

“You know our positions, we are ready to work together this way,” Putin told Hollande.

“Moreover, we consider it necessary and in this sense, our positions coincide.”

The two countries will now work together and exchange classified intelligence on Daesh to improve counter-terrorism aerial bombing campaigns over the Middle East. The announcement came after Russia announced that punitive sanctions would be placed on Turkey, cancelling major investment projects and preventing imports from the country.

Although Hollande was pleased with the meeting, he made it clear that the alliance only had one target.

“What we agreed, and this is important, is to strike only terrorists and Islamic State and not to strike forces that are fighting terrorism,” Hollande said at the joint news conference.

President Assad, long viewed by Arab and Western nations, including France, as a key factor in prolonging Syria’s five year civil war, is Moscow’s ally. The unexpected alliance came after Assad sent a letter to Putin, requesting military assistance amidst the nation’s turmoil.

In acceptance of the request, Russian military increased its presence in the wartorn nation and launched an aggressive bombing campaign targeted at those opposing the Syrian command.

The Russian capital was Hollande’s last stage of a diplomatic world tour, which saw him preparing and strengthening efforts to thwart the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

He was able to garner support from a host of other EU nations, including British Prime Minister David Cameron, who like Putin, set out his case for air strikes over the aggravated Syrian nation. Cameron cemented the UK’s partnership with France by offering Hollande the use of its Cyprus airbase in Turkey for aerial charges against Islamic State militants.

Germany offered Tornado reconnaissance jets, satellite imaging, aerial refuelling and a naval frigate to the cause, while Italy pledged its support for a greater strength to destroy IS.

However, US President Barack Obama was more reluctant to intensify armed action in Syria.

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