Premature to speak about Russia's military engagement in anti-ISIL operations - Putin
VLADIVOSTOK. Sept 4 (Interfax) - It would be premature to speak about Russia's possible military engagement in the fight against ISIL, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.
"It would be premature to say that we are ready to do that now," he told reporters, answering a related question.
"We are considering various options but what you have mentioned is not on our current agenda, still we will be holding consultations both with our Syrian friends and regional countries," the Russian leader said.
Putin reminded the press that Russia was already giving rather serious support to Syria with hardware, the coaching of servicemen and arms deliveries under contracts signed five to seven years ago.
He noted that the operations of the U.S. military coalition against ISIL had not been efficient. "Say, U.S. aircraft deliver certain strikes. Yet the efficiency of these air strikes is not high," he said.