Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu held a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar, discussing with him the situation in the Black Sea region and Ukraine, as well as in Syria. The Russian defense ministry told reporters on Friday.
"The head of the Russian military department drew Akar's attention to the fact that the US military has been on the territory of the sovereign state of Syria for a long time. Shoigu called their stay there a violation of international norms and stressed that bases deployed by the United States, such as Al-Tanf, are used to train fighters of terrorist groups," the report said.
Shoigu in his conversation with Akar also noted the illegal nature of US unilateral sanctions against the official Syrian government. He also stressed that the restrictions exacerbate the grave humanitarian situation in the country.
The minister also pointed to the need to continue maintaining the ceasefire in Syria. The Russian defense ministry said the two countries' ministries are in constant contact on this issue at various levels.
Shoigu also drew attention to the long presence of the American military in Syria, which violates international norms. The minister said that the US military has seized and currently holds control over a number of mining areas in Syria. "The US military <...> is actually stealing minerals from a sovereign state," the statement reads.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of RF
Based on materials TASS