Russia can ramp up military presence in Syria within �hours� if needed: Putin

Russia Syria pullout could slow EU refugee flows: Juncker

AFP, MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin on Thursday warned that Russia could ramp up its military presence in Syria within “several hours” if needed, as he urged all sides of the conflict to respect a ceasefire. “If there’s a need, Russia literally within several hours can ramp up its presence in the region to the size required for the unfolding situation and use the whole arsenal of possibilities we have at our disposal,” Putin said in the Kremlin. “We would not want to do that, a military escalation is not our choice,” he added as he decorated officers who served in the war-torn country. “And that’s why we put our hopes in the common sense of all parties, in the commitment to the peace process of both the Syrian authorities and the opposition.”
Putin’s warning came after the Russian strongman on Monday ordered the surprise withdrawal of most of Russia’s armed forces from Syria, saying Moscow’s task had been “on the whole” completed.
Speaking to the top military brass on Thursday, he said Moscow was not abandoning its ally Bashar al-Assad, pledging Russia’s continuing military and other support to his regime and praising the Syrian leader.
“We see his restraint, his sincere desire to achieve peace, his readiness for compromise and dialogue,” Putin said.
Putin said that Moscow would leave its advanced S-400 air defence system in Syria and warned that Russian forces would shoot down “any target” they considered a threat.
He said Russia had also helped boost Syria’s air defences, adding he was certain that the “patriotic forces” fighting jihadists would score new battlefield triumphs in the near future.
He also extolled the Russian armed forces for their service in the Middle Eastern country.
“We have created conditions for the start of the peace process,” he said.
“It is you—the Russian soldiers—who opened the path to peace.”
More than 700 soldiers and officers from the Russian air forces, ground forces and navy, and other military officials, have been invited to take part in the ceremony, the Kremlin said.
Pro-Kremlin observers hailed the five-and-a-half-month aerial campaign in Syria which they said helped Putin break out of international isolation over Ukraine and assert Russia’s interests in the Middle East.
Another news adds: Russia will complete the withdrawal of the bulk of its forces from Syria before the end of the week, a top Russian general suggested in an interview published Thursday.
“I think this will be over very quickly. Within the timeframe determined by (the president) and the defence minister. Today or tomorrow... within two-three days we will complete the task,” Viktor Bondarev, the commander of the Russian Air Force, told Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper.
The interview was published in the newspaper Thursday but put online late Wednesday. It was not clear precisely when the general made his remarks.
Russian planes have been flying back home from Syria since Tuesday after President Vladimir Putin gave the surprise order to pull out most of Moscow’s forces in the war-torn country.
Russia is set to keep its air base near Latakia in Syria and the Tartus naval facility and it remains unclear what sort of presence exactly Moscow will leave behind.
Bondarev said that along with warplanes, Russia will pull out helicopters by loading them onto cargo planes.
Another news from Brussels adds:  Russia's military pullout from Syria is welcome and could help slow the flood of refugees causing Europe's worst migrant crisis in decades, European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker said Thursday.
"I welcome the initiatives taken by the Russian leadership to withdraw from Syria," Juncker said ahead of a crunch EU leaders summit on the migration crisis.
"It could be easily that this would reduce the number of refugees (coming) to Europe but it is too early to say," he added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin surprised the world when he ordered the withdrawal this week, having launched a massive air campaign in September to help long-time ally Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regain ground lost to rebels seeking his ouster.
Putin said the decision was meant to support fragile Syrian peace talks in Geneva but he warned Thursday he could easily reverse course in a matter of hours.

Russia can ramp up military presence in Syria within �hours� if needed: Putin

Russia Syria pullout could slow EU refugee flows: Juncker

AFP, MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin on Thursday warned that Russia could ramp up its military presence in Syria within several hours if needed, as he urged all sides of the conflict to respect a ceasefire. If theres a need, Russia literally within several hours can ramp up its presence in the region to the size required for the unfolding situation and use the whole arsenal of possibilities we have at our disposal, Putin said in the Kremlin. We would not want to do that, a military escalation is not our choice, he added as he decorated officers who served in the war-torn country. And thats why we put our hopes in the common sense of all parties, in the commitment to the peace process of both the Syrian authorities and the opposition. Putins warning came after the Russian strongman on Monday ordered the surprise withdrawal of most of Russias armed forces from Syria, saying Moscows task had been on the whole completed. Speaking to the top military brass on Thursday, he said Moscow was not abandoning its ally Bashar al-Assad, pledging Russias continuing military and other support to his regime and praising the Syrian leader. We see his restraint, his sincere desire to achieve peace, his readiness for compromise and dialogue, Putin said. Putin said that Moscow would leave its advanced S-400 air defence system in Syria and warned that Russian forces would shoot down any target they considered a threat. He said Russia had also helped boost Syrias air defences, adding he was certain that the patriotic forces fighting jihadists would score new battlefield triumphs in the near future. He also extolled the Russian armed forces for their service in the Middle Eastern country. We have created conditions for the start of the peace process, he said. It is youthe Russian soldierswho opened the path to peace. More than 700 soldiers and officers from the Russian air forces, ground forces and navy, and other military officials, have been invited to take part in the ceremony, the Kremlin said. Pro-Kremlin observers hailed the five-and-a-half-month aerial campaign in Syria which they said helped Putin break out of international isolation over Ukraine and assert Russias interests in the Middle East. Another news adds: Russia will complete the withdrawal of the bulk of its forces from Syria before the end of the week, a top Russian general suggested in an interview published Thursday. I think this will be over very quickly. Within the timeframe determined by (the president) and the defence minister. Today or tomorrow... within two-three days we will complete the task, Viktor Bondarev, the commander of the Russian Air Force, told Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper. The interview was published in the newspaper Thursday but put online late Wednesday. It was not clear precisely when the general made his remarks. Russian planes have been flying back home from Syria since Tuesday after President Vladimir Putin gave the surprise order to pull out most of Moscows forces in the war-torn country. Russia is set to keep its air base near Latakia in Syria and the Tartus naval facility and it remains unclear what sort of presence exactly Moscow will leave behind. Bondarev said that along with warplanes, Russia will pull out helicopters by loading them onto cargo planes. Another news from Brussels adds: Russias military pullout from Syria is welcome and could help slow the flood of refugees causing Europes worst migrant crisis in decades, European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker said Thursday. I welcome the initiatives taken by the Russian leadership to withdraw from Syria, Juncker said ahead of a crunch EU leaders summit on the migration crisis. It could be easily that this would reduce the number of refugees (coming) to Europe but it is too early to say, he added. Russian President Vladimir Putin surprised the world when he ordered the withdrawal this week, having launched a massive air campaign in September to help long-time ally Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regain ground lost to rebels seeking his ouster. Putin said the decision was meant to support fragile Syrian peace talks in Geneva but he warned Thursday he could easily reverse course in a matter of hours.