Russia: Putin: No plans 'right now' to send troops to Syria
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 28 September 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russia: Putin: No plans 'right now' to send troops to Syria, 28 September 2015, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/561d04c715.html [accessed 18 December 2015] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
September 28, 2015
By RFE/RL
President Vladimir Putin has said Russia had no plans "right now" to put combat troops in Syria, but would continue backing the Syrian government.
The Russian leader also sharply criticized U.S. military support for Syrian rebels, describing it as not only illegal but counterproductive.
Putin was speaking in an interview broadcast on September 27 on the eve of his meeting with President Barack Obama.
Putin and Obama are scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, after both address the annual gathering of world leaders.
Besides the crisis in Syria, U.S. officials say Obama and Putin will discuss the simmering conflict in eastern Ukraine, where the Kremlin is accused of backing pro-Russian separatists.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met on September 27 to prepare the ground for the presidents' meeting.
A Russian military buildup in Syria, a longtime ally, has raised concerns in Washington. Putin and other officials have said only that Russia was providing weapons and training to Syrian President Bashar al Assad's army to help it combat the Islamic State extremist group.
Asked if Russia could send troops to join the fight, Putin previously said "we are looking at various options."
"Russia will not participate in any troop operations in the territory of Syria or in any other states. Well, at least we don't plan on it right now," Putin said in the interview on CBS' "60 Minutes."
Putin noted the Pentagon's recent admission that an effort to train more than 5,000 Syrian rebels had yielded only four or five fighters after about 50 others were captured, wounded or fled in their first encounter with extremist militants.
Putin defended Russia's military buildup in Syria and support for Assad, describing the Syrian government army as the only legitimate one in Syria and said the U.S. military support for "illegal structures" ran counter to international law and the UN charter.
Based on reporting by AP and AFP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
