Moscow ready to continue dialogue with U.S., joint fight against terrorists in Syria - Defense Ministry
MOSCOW. Sept 29 (Interfax) - The Russian Defense Ministry is ready for dialogue with the United States on Syria and to work out joint measures to fight terrorists, but will not accept even a hint of a threat to the Russian military and civilians, the ministry's spokesperson Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.
"Once again we declare: we are fully ready to continue the dialogue with America and elaborate joint measures of fighting terrorists in Syria," he said.
"However, this dialogue must exclude even a hint of a threat to our military and Russian citizens," Konashenkov said.
"On questions of providing safety of Russian citizens wherever they are, there will be no tradeoff. This is our chief and unconditional priority," Konashenkov said.
He was commenting on a speech by U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby who said that if the Syrian civil war continues, terrorists will strike at Russian interests and cities, and Russia will continue "to send troops home in body bags" and "to lose resources - even, perhaps, more aircraft."