Putin, Merkel discuss Syria over phone

Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have discussed the situation in Syria over the phone, according to the Kremlin on Tuesday.

"The president of Russia again stressed that actions of a group of western countries that committed an act of aggression against the Syrian Arab Republic, brutally violated the norms of international law, including the UN Charter, and severely damaged the peace process of the Syrian crisis," said a statement published on the Kremlin's official website.

The two leaders agreed about the necessity of an objective investigation into the alleged chemical attack in Syria, according to the Kremlin.

Putin and Merkel also expressed readiness to assist the resumption of the Astana and Geneva talks on Syria.

The U.S., U.K. and France jointly launched strikes Friday night targeting the Syrian regime chemical weapons capabilities in retaliation for the suspected chemical attack that had killed dozens in Eastern Ghouta.