President Vladimir Putin has bluntly warned the US and its allies not to arm opposition rebels in Syria, reasserting Russia’s uncompromising support for Bashar al-Assad’s regime and declaring Moscow backs the “legitimate” government.
As world leaders prepare to attend the G8 summit in Northern Ireland today, Barack Obama, US president, hopes Russia will reconsider its backing for Mr Assad, as Washington provides new evidence the regime has used chemical weapons against opponents.
But, after talks with David Cameron, prime minister and the summit’s host, in Downing Street yesterday, Mr Putin showed little sign of compromising on Syria. He said Russia was “supplying arms to the legitimate government of Syria in line with international law.”