President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian military to take “exceptionally demanding” actions against any risk to its forces in Syria.
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Putin told defense officials in Moscow December 11 that Russian forces in Syria should “immediately destroy” such targets.
But Peskov did not say Putin had been mistaken or misquoted about supplies to the Free Syrian Army and did not deny weapons were going to the opposition force.
In a thinly veiled threat to Ankara, he added: “I would like to warn those who would once again try to organise some sort of provocations against our servicemen”.
He said Russian military action supporting the Syrian army offensive had helped change the situation on the ground, and that Russia was also helping units of the opposition Free Syrian Army fight “terrorists”, providing air cover and supplying them with weapons.
“Russia supplies weapons to the legitimate authorities of the Syrian Arab Republic”, Peskov told reporters.
The Russian president struck a different tone with regards to nations that Moscow is actively trying to court in Syria, such as the United States and Israel – which are conducting their own operations against IS targets.
Also, the Russian leader stressed the importance of strengthening Russia’s strategic nuclear forces.
Celeste Wallander, senior director for Russia and Central Asia on U.S. President Barack Obama’s National Security Council, said “it’s clear” an agreement is possible between the U.S.-led coalition and Moscow on the political exit of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Russia’s staunch ally, as part of a transition in Syria.
Speaking on a visit to Rome, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov offered a rare praise for the U.S.-led coalition, saying Moscow is glad to see it has “intensified its activities”, targeting oil facilities and trucks in IS-controlled territories. According to Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu the impact of Islamic State is becoming bigger in Syria, as almost 70 percent of the country is controlled by militants.
Worldwide talks on Syria in Vienna in November set a deadline of January 1 for dialog to begin between the Syrian government and opposition groups.
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“The main thing is to prevent a threat to the Russian Federation”, Putin said.
