MOSCOW, April 23. /TASS/. The call of French President Emmanuel Macron not to withdraw forces from Syria even after the war on terror is over is reminiscent of a colonial stance, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters in Beijing.

"I heard that most recently French President Macron called on the United States not to pull out forces from Syria even when the last terrorist is killed or expelled from the country’s territory," Lavrov said in a commentary published on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s website.

The French leader said it was necessary to remain in the country "nearly on a permanent basis and to build a new Syria," Lavrov said, calling this a "colonial stance." Russia will ask France to clarify this position, he noted.