Merkel has announced the need of beefing up sanctions against Russia

Angela Merkel wants to get other European Union member countries to agree to step up sanctions against Russia because of its role in the war in Syria, as saying «Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung».

The issue of sanctions is due to be discussed at an EU summit on Thursday and Friday. U.S. President Barack Obama told Merkel by telephone that he would support «a tough response» if European countries could agree on that, F.A.S. cited sources as saying.

Last month the situation in Aleppo has escalated. The United States has accused Damascus and Moscow in the bombing of the civilian population and the armed opposition groups. In turn Russian and Syrian authorities have designated that the air strikes were targeting only terrorists and accused the United States of its failure in separating the so-called moderate opposition from the real radical terrorist groups.