Putin Derides `Weak' U.S. Policy as Top Diplomats Discuss Syria
Source: Bloomberg
By Andrey Biryukov, Dana Khraiche
October 15, 2015 4:11 AM EDT
Updated on October 15, 2015 11:56 AM EDT
- Kerry, Lavrov spoke on military security: Foreign Ministry
- Russia says its jets bombed Islamic State 32 times in past day
Russias top diplomat held talks with his U.S. counterpart after President Vladimir Putin derided American policy on Syria as weak and lacking objectives, while his air force continued bombing raids to support Bashar al-Assads government.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry discussed the situation in Syria by phone on Thursday and expressed satisfaction on the progress of military talks to improve security in the Syrian airspace in the context of anti-terrorist actions, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow said in a website statement. They agreed to continue contacts on Syria and on resolving the Ukrainian conflict, it said.
Amid growing friction over the Russian military intervention that began Sept. 30, the U.S. rejected Putins offer to send a delegation led by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to Washington to explain the campaign against Islamic State and other militants, Lavrov said on Wednesday. Putin accused some states of having oatmeal in their heads on Tuesday for failing to understand that the air strikes seek to defeat terrorism.
I dont really understand how the U.S. can criticize Russias actions in Syria if they refuse to have direct dialogue, Putin told reporters earlier Thursday during a visit to Astana, Kazakhstan. The basic weakness of the American position is that they dont have an agenda, though were keeping the door open for high-level discussions, he said.
Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-15/putin-says-u-s-position-on-syria-is-weak-lacks-objectives
uhnope
(6,419 posts)Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)Our policy toward Syria is a mess.
uawchild
(2,208 posts)Iraq is a model of stability. Our democratic allies in Saudi Arabia are letting women drive cars and missionaries hand out bibles. And Yemen, why Yemen is a go to tourist destination these days too. I and sure our moderate rebels will oust Assad and defeat ISIS any day now.
The CCC
(463 posts)Vlad "The Impaler" Putin and Rethugs agree. AMAZING.
murielm99
(30,782 posts)some foolish military action. He wants war, cold war all over, or shooting war.
The man is crazy. I am glad that Obama is keeping us out of military overextension. I give Kerry a lot of credit, too.
CJCRANE
(18,184 posts)on behalf of the so-called moderate rebels.
I'm not sure that's going to cool things down.
Nitram
(22,951 posts)jtuck004
(15,882 posts)Security is told to back off a little...let them play.
Might be a damn interesting cultural exchange.