France and the United States joined NATO and the United Nations in calling for a de-escalation of tensions Tuesday after Turkey shot down a Russian war plane over its volatile border with Syria.

France and the United States joined NATO and the United Nations in calling for a de-escalation of tensions Tuesday after Turkey shot down a Russian war plane over its volatile border with Syria.

US President Barack Obama, shortly after meeting with his French counterpart Francois Hollande at the White House, urged calm and said diplomacy should be allowed to work.

"I think it is very important for us to right now make sure that both the Russians and the Turks are talking to each other and find out exactly what happened, and take measures to discourage any kind of escalation," Obama told reporters.

"Hopefully, this is a moment in which all parties can step back and make a determination as to how their interests are best served," he added.

"Turkey, like every country, has a right to defend its territory and airspace," he said.

However, Moscow has insisted that the jet had stayed inside Syrian territory.

For his part, Hollande called the air clash "serious" and regrettable, and said Turkey was providing relevant information to NATO in order to help determine what happened.

"But we must prevent an escalation. That would be extremely damaging," Hollande said.

"We must find a solution to this Syrian crisis, because we can see what the risks are otherwise."

French President arrived in Washington on Tuesday for talks with US President Barack Obama on how to confront the threat posed by the so-called 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' (ISIL) takfiri group in the wake of the Paris attacks.

Hollande's trip to Washington is part of a frantic week of shuttle diplomacy by the French leader to rally global support to fight ISIL.