Putin 'wants US to protect Syrian convoys'

Russian President Vladimir Putin wants the United States to protect aid convoys in Syria, Germany says.

Russian President Vladimir Putin wants the United States to protect aid convoys in Syria, German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said after meeting him in Moscow.

An air strike hit relief trucks near the city of Aleppo on Monday, shattering a ceasefire.

The United States believes Russian aircraft are responsible but Moscow has denied involvement and the Russian Defence Ministry said on Wednesday a US Predator drone was in the area when the convoy was attacked.

Gabriel, who spoke to Putin in private for about an hour on Wednesday, said the Russian leader denied any Russian involvement in the attack on the aid convoy and added that Putin signalled he was very interested in re-establishing the ceasefire.

It is Putin's wish that "not only Russia is prepared to monitor these convoys with its own forces", Gabriel said, adding that Putin was in favour of the United States doing so as well.

"That's one of the big conflicts - that the Americans are not prepared to do that - at least not yet," Gabriel said.

Gabriel urged the Russian leader to use his influence on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to bring about a de-escalation in Syria.

The United States believes two Russian aircraft attacked an aid convoy near Aleppo in a strike that shattered a one-week truce, US. officials said on Tuesday, but Russia denied involvement.

The Russian Defence Ministry said on Wednesday that a US Predator drone was in the area where a UN aid convoy was partially destroyed in Syria on Monday and had appeared on the scene minutes before the incident.

Gabriel said he told Putin that Germany thought the Syrian army was involved in the attack.

"Of course we didn't agree on that," Gabriel said.


Share
2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world