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Russian-US military cooperation potential wider than US proposals — defense ministry

At the same time I would like to point out that we are not imposing ourselves as partners in addressing a common task the international community is faced with, Russian Deputy Defense Minister said

MOSCOW, October 6. /TASS/. Potential of cooperation by Russian and US defence ministries is far greater than Washington’s proposals for joint struggle against the Islamic State, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov has told the media.

"I would like to say once again that the potential of Russian-US military cooperation between the defence ministries is far greater than the Americans have proposed to us today," he said.

"At the same time I would like to point out that we are not imposing ourselves as partners in addressing a common task the international community is faced with," Antonov said.

"Russia is interested in military cooperation with any country to the same extent the partner in question is interested in it, too," he added.

Russian and US military officials on October 1 discussed the safe use of combat aircraft in Syria in a video-conference. The Russian Defense Ministry said the talks were "constructive", while the Pentagon described them as "professional and cordial."

Russian warplanes on September 30 dealt the first pinpoint strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria. The Russian air group in Syria consists of more than 50 planes and helicopters, including the newest Sukhoi-34 jets, and also upgraded Sukhoi-24M and Sukhoi-25. Russia is not going to participate in ground operations in Syria.