Putin makes veiled threat to Ankara
RUSSIA AIDING FREE SYRIAN ARMY IN ‘FIGHT AGAINST TERROR’
Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday vowed to further modernise Russian arsenals and said that its military in Syria will “immediately destroy” any target threatening them, a strong warning to Turkey following its shoot-down of a Russian warplane at the Syrian border.
Speaking at a meeting with the top military brass, Putin named “strengthening of the combat potential of strategic nuclear forces and the implementation of space defence programmes” a key priority.
Without naming Turkey, Putin said the military should respond in full force to any “further provocations.” He said the Russian military base in Syria has been beefed up with additional aircraft and air defence weapons.
“I order you to act in the toughest way,” Putin said. “Any targets threatening the Russian groups of forces or our land infrastructure should be immediately destroyed.”
Turkey’s foreign minister said yesterday his country is refraining from responding to Russian efforts to hit back at Turkey over the plane’s downing, but added that the country’s patience has limits. “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,” Cavusoglu said.
Putin said the Russian military action supporting the Syrian army offensive helped change the situation on the ground. He said that Russia was also helping some units of the opposition Free Syrian Army, which were fighting “terrorists”, providing air cover and supplying them with weapons.
Kerry to visit Moscow
In Paris, State Department spokesman said US Secretary of State John Kerry will head to Moscow on Tuesday for talks with Putin on the Syrian crisis and the fight against Daesh. “They will discuss ongoing efforts to achieve a political transition in Syria,” Mark Toner said on the sidelines of climate change talks.