On Friday, French President Francois Hollande stated that the only way out of the ongoing crisis in Syria was the departure of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which would require an increase in international pressure and more UN sanctions. "The regime of Bashar al-Assad has behaved in an unacceptable and intolerable manner and has committed acts which disqualify it," Hollande told a joint news conference with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. "No solution to this crisis is possible without the departure of Bashar al-Assad."