Russia has not yet sent S-300 missiles to Syria: Putin
President Vladimir Putin yesterday dismissed criticism of Russian arms sales to Damascus but said Moscow had not yet delivered the S-300 missiles that Western governments say could prolong Syria's civil war.
Putin defended Russia's stance on Syria after talks with European Union leaders, criticising them for not extending an embargo on member states selling weapons to Syrian rebels and warning against any foreign military intervention in Syria.
But he left the door open to diplomacy as Russia and the United States try to bring the warring sides together for an international peace conference, saying the S-300 missiles had not yet been sent to President Bashar al-Assad's government.
"As for the S-300, it is really one of the best defence systems in the world, if not the best. This is, of course, a serious weapon," Putin told a news conference with EU President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in the central Russian city of Yekaterinburg.
But he added: "We do not want to disturb the balance in the region. The contract was signed several years ago. It has not been fulfilled yet."
Putin gave no indication that Russia would abandon the contract - he said Russian arms deals with Syria were transparent and violated no international laws.
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