In a speech to his top military commanders, Putin said the Russian military has provided weapons, supplies and air support to the Western-backed opposition group.
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“Special attention should be paid to strengthening the combat potential of the strategic nuclear forces and implementing defense space programs”, continued Putin during the meeting.
Kerry’s trip will be his second to Russian Federation this year.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will arrive in Moscow for a working visit on Tuesday, Dec. 15, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported on Dec. 11.
He said the Russian military base in Syria has been bolstered with additional aircraft and air defence weapons.
“I order you to act as tough as possible”.
Putin said earlier on Friday Russia supports the opposition Free Syrian Army, providing it with air support, arms and ammunition in joint operations with Syrian troops against Islamist militants.
“We support it from the air, as well as the Syrian army, we assist them with weapons, ammunition and provide material support”.
“Russia supplies weapons to the legitimate authorities of the Syrian Arab Republic”, he said. If true, that would represent a major shift in the Kremlin’s tactics.
The buildup followed the downing of a Russian warplane by a Turkish fighter jet at the Syrian border on November 24.
Turkey says the bomber entered its airspace, which Russian Federation denies. “If we are not responding to all that they have done until now, it is not because we are afraid or because any psychology of guilt”, Mevlut Cavusoglu told NTV television.
Putin said strikes by Russia’s air force and navy had inflicted heavy damage on the infrastructure of Islamic State, which controls large areas of eastern Syria and western Iraq.
His statement appeared to be the first time Moscow said it was supporting Syrian President Bashar Assad’s opponents in the fight against the terrorist group in Syria.
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Putin said it was important to develop cooperation “with all states that have a real interest in destroying the terrorists”.
