Putin Calls for Int’l Coalition on Extremism: Premature to Talk about Military Action against ’ISIL’

Local Editor

Russian President Vladimir Putin called Friday to establish an international coalition on extremism, saying he had talked with US President Barack Obama about the initiative.

Putin told journalists on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum that he had also been in talks about such a coalition with the leaders of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and others.

"We really want to create some kind of an international coalition to fight terrorism and extremism," Putin said. "To this end, we hold consultations with our American partners - I have personally spoken on the issue with US President Obama."

Putin further stated that it was premature to talk about Russia taking part in military operations against the "ISIL" terrorist group, as the US claimed it was checking reports of Russian troops in Syria.

Asked whether Russia could take part in operations against "ISIL", Putin said: "We are looking at various options but so far what you are talking about is not on the agenda."

"To say we're ready to do this today -- so far it's premature to talk about this. But we are already giving Syria quite serious help with equipment and training soldiers, with our weapons," RIA Novosti state news agency quoted Putin as saying.

The White House on Thursday said it was closely monitoring reports that Russia is carrying out military operations in Syria, warning such actions, if confirmed, would be "destabilizing and counter-productive."

Putin, speaking at an international economic forum in the far eastern city of Vladivostok, criticized US air strikes on "ISIL" as ineffective.

"So far the effectiveness of these air strikes is low," he said.

Putin said that military supplies to Syria were fulfilling contracts dating back five to seven years.

On the refugees' crisis, Putin added: "Russia has frequently warned of major problems which Europe would face as a result of Western policies in the Middle East and North Africa and jihadist groups terrorizing people, so the current refugee crisis in the EU doesn't come as a surprise, said the President of Russia."

Putin noted that the US is not facing a refugee crisis of the same magnitude as the EU, which has been "blindly following American orders."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team