The shooting down of the jet comes at a tense time in relations between Russia and the West: on one hand Moscow's intervention in Crimea and eastern Ukraine has led to substantial sanctions and, on the other, there are increased calls for a more united international effort to solve the civil war in Syria.
For many, it is a reminder of how difficult greater cooperation with Russia could be, and "undermines hopes that cooperation could see a softening in Russian sanctions" according to Tina Fordham, chief global political analyst at Citi.
Why does France seem to be taking the doctrine of "my enemy's enemy is my friend" more seriously than other Western powers?
IS fight
After the tragic attacks in Paris which killed 129 people, Hollande has hardened his stance on the fight against IS and pledged an additional 600 million euros ($636 million) on additional security spending. The more significant military heft is added to a planned anti-IS coalition, the better – even if the problem of Russia's allegiance to Syria's controversial leader, Bashar Assad, whom U.S. President Barack Obama called a "brutal, murderous dictator" last week, has yet to be resolved.
Patrick Abboud
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