Putin Seeks Coordinated Framework to Fight ’ISIL’
Local Editor
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview released Sunday that he was seeking partners to set up a "coordinated framework" to fight the "ISIL" group in Iraq and Syria.
"We have proposed to cooperate with the countries in the region. We are trying to establish some kind of coordinated framework," Putin said in the interview with CBS television.
He further stated: "We would welcome a common platform for collective action against the terrorists."
Putin said he had personally informed the kings of Saudi Arabia and Jordan of his plan and that he had also informed the United States.
Putin is expected to explain Russia's motives in Syria when he addresses the UN General Assembly on Monday, just after President Barack Obama takes the podium.
In the interview, Putin argued that Washington's approach to equip and train opposition forces to Assad had failed to meet its initial target of arming between 5,000 and 6,000.
"It turns out that only 60 of these fighters have been properly trained, and as few as 4 or 5 people actually carry weapons, with the rest of them have deserted with the American weapons to join "ISIL"," he said.
Putin reasserted Russia's view that the Syrian forces were fighting the "ISIL" terrorist group and stressed "there is only one legitimate conventional army" in Syria.
Moving to Ukraine, Putin said that Russia respects the sovereignty of Ukraine, adding that "at no time in the past, now or in the future has or will Russia take any part in actions aimed at overthrowing the legitimate government."
He added that Moscow "would like other countries to respect the sovereignty of other states, including Ukraine. Respecting the sovereignty means preventing coups, unconstitutional actions and illegitimate overthrowing of the legitimate government."
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
Comments
- Related News
