No Russian troops going to Syria ‘right now’ – Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin says Russia has no plans ‘‘right now’’ to put combat troops on the ground in Syria but will continue backing the Syrian Government.
The Russian leader, speaking on the eve of his meeting with United States President Barack Obama, also sharply criticised US military support for Syrian rebels, describing it as not only illegal but counterproductive.
Putin and Obama are set to meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, after both address the annual gathering of world leaders.
A Russian military buildup in Syria, a longtime ally, has raised concerns in Washington.
Putin and other officials have said only that Russia is providing weapons and training to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s army to help it combat the Islamic State group.
Asked if Russia could send troops to join the fight, Putin said: ‘‘Russia will not participate in any troop operations in the territory of Syria or in any other states. Well, at least we don’t plan on it right now.
‘‘But we are considering intensifying our work with both President Assad and with our partners in other countries.’’
In a dig at the US, Putin noted the Pentagon’s recent admission that an effort to train more than 5000 Syrian rebels had yielded only four or five fighters after about 50 others were captured, wounded or fled in their first encounter with extremist militants.
Defending Russia’s military buildup in Syria and support for Assad, he described the Syrian government army as the only legitimate one in Syria and said the US military support for ‘‘illegal structures’’ ran counter to international law and the UN charter.