Putin Declares Easter Ceasefire in Ukraine War
The Kremlin has announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered an “Easter ceasefire” in the war in Ukraine, declaring a temporary halt in hostilities lasting around 36 hours
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. File photo EPA/BGNES
Russian aircraft are delivering military supplies to Syria as well as humanitarian aid, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.
He, however, dismissed concerns of the United States and NATO who recently said that Russia is possibly building up its military presence at Syria's Mediterranean port city of Latakia for potential use of the airfield as a forward air-operating hub.
"Russia is airlifting military products to Syria under existing contracts, as well as humanitarian assistance," Lavrov said, according to TASS.
He also said that Russian military personnel has been in Syria for many years.
"Its presence is linked to the supplies of weapons for the Syrian army, which is bearing the brunt of the war against terrorism, in particular, the Islamic State, and other extremist groups," Lavrov said.
Three Russian military transport planes, including two giant An-124 landed in Syria and new housing units had been set up at the airfield in Latakia which seems to suggest a possible increase in Moscow’s military support for Assad's regime, US officials told AFP on Tuesday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that it is too early to speak about a possible participation of his country in military operations against the Islamic State group.
Lavrov also spoke about his phone conversation with his US counterpart, Secretary of State John Kerry, on Wednesday in which Kerry expressed concern over Moscow’s support for the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Lavrov described as “a colossal mistake” the fact that the US-led international coalition fighting the Islamic State group in Syria “never considered interaction with Syria, not even information exchange.”
“I cannot comprehend this logic, or rather absolute lack of logic,” Lavrov said, according to rt.com.
Moscow has repeatedly said that its long-time ally Bashar al-Assad should be part of international efforts to combat the jihadist miltants of Islamic State group.
A leaked transcript of a phone call between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin shows Orban offering extensive support to Moscow and describing himself as ready to help “in any way” in relation to the war in Ukraine
Vladimir Putin stated that Armenia cannot realistically pursue membership in the European Union while remaining part of the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union, arguing that the two frameworks are fundamentally incompatible
A Russian An-26 military transport aircraft has crashed in Crimea, killing all 29 people on board, according to information released by the country’s defense ministry and cited by Russian state media
Audio recordings allegedly capturing conversations between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó have been leaked to the media
Ukrainian authorities have reported the existence of a recruitment network operating across parts of Eastern Europe, including Bulgaria, which is allegedly involved in organizing sabotage and destabilization activities in support of Russian interests
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has publicly expressed gratitude to Russia and President Vladimir Putin, saying Moscow’s political backing and statements of support provide encouragement to Tehran during the ongoing conflict
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