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Conflict in Syria

Russia not trying to assume leadership through Syria operation — Kremlin

Kremlin spokesman said it was all about "the effort that Russia exerts in fight against Islamic State [ ...], and effort that is in the long run aimed at preserving Syria as a unified state"

© Defense Ministry press service/TASS

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Russia’s envoy to NATO criticizes West for Syria-related reproaches against Russia

SOCHI, October 9. /TASS/. The Kremlin does not agree with the US president who says Russia is trying to assume leadership through its anti-terrorist operation in Syria, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday.

"It is not about the leadership. I suppose the overwhelming majority of the points of view expressed by observers, analysts in other countries is diametrically opposite to that voiced by the US president," he said, specifying that he referred to Barack Obama’s words about the role of Russia and Russia’s motives.

Peskov said it was all about "the effort that Russia exerts in fight against Islamic State and other terrorist, extremist groups, and effort that is in the long run aimed at preserving Syria as a unified state".

Focusing on the Syrian conflict, the US president alleged that "Syria was Russia's only ally in the region".

"And today, rather than being able to count on their support and maintain the base they had in Syria, which they've had for a long time, Mr. Putin now is devoting his own troops, his own military, just to barely hold together by a thread his sole ally," he said.

Tags

Foreign policy Syrian conflict

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