Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns are expected to meet this week to discuss the situation in Syria, a news report said Tuesday.
The meeting is expected to take place on Thursday at the Friends of Yemen meeting in London that the U.S. delegation headed by Burns will attend, Interfax reported, citing an unidentified official with the Foreign Ministry.
Just days ago, the Foreign Ministry denounced Western nations' support for the Syrian opposition after U.S. President Barack Obama's administration promised to provide Syrian rebels with nonlethal aid and the political opposition with $60 million, the Associated Press reported.
Russia has repeatedly voted against sanctions on the Syrian regime at UN Security Council meetings and said President Bashar Assad should not be forced out.
Last week, Alexander Fomin, the head of the Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation, told Ekho Moskvy radio that arms shipments to Syria were being intercepted and the cargo seized despite the fact that Russia is not violating any international agreements.
"A real war has been declared against us," he said, "I would say a secret one."
He also said the Russian budget was incurring major losses because payments for supplies were being frozen by Western banks.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
