Report: An Angry Russia Will Deliver Missiles To Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and British Prime Minister David Cameron met earlier this month. Cameron said then that he was encouraged by Russia's willingness to take part in a peace conference on Syria. Now, Russia is said to be angry about the EU's decision to lift an embargo on arming the Syrian opposition. Alexey Nikoksky /AFP/Getty Images — Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and British Prime Minister David Cameron met earlier this month. Cameron said then that he was encouraged by Russia’s willingness to take part in a peace conference on Syria. Now, Russia is said to be angry about the EU’s decision to lift an embargo on arming the Syrian opposition. Alexey Nikoksky /AFP/Getty Images

The European Union’s decision to end its embargo on arming the opposition in Syria has been followed by sharp criticism from Russia’s foreign ministry and word that Russia will follow through on plans to deliver anti-aircraft missiles to President Bashar Assad’s military.

According to the BBC, “Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the [Russian] missiles were a ‘stabilizing factor’ that could dissuade ‘some hotheads’ from entering the conflict.”

Russia has been one of Assad’s few foreign friends since the start of protests against the Syrian president’s regime in March 2011 and during the sectarian civil war that has followed. As NPR’s Corey Flintoff reports from Moscow, Russia says the weapons it has delivered and the missiles it will be sending are part of arms deals that were signed before the conflict began.

From London, NPR’s Philip Reeves says that Russian diplomats believe the EU’s decision undermines the chances of a possible peace conference aimed at ending Syria’s civil war. From Moscow, Corey adds that “Russia’s foreign ministry acted as if the Europeans were sabotaging Russian and U.S. efforts to bring the warring parties to the bargaining table.”

Just two weeks ago, British Prime Minister David Cameron was hailing Russia’s agreement to take part in such peace talks. That was “a real breakthrough,” Cameron said.

Though EU ministers have agreed to end their nations’ embargo on arming the Syrian opposition, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Monday that his nation has “no immediate plans to send arms to Syria.” The Associated Press adds that “no other EU member appeared to have immediate plans to send arms to the rebels.”

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