Russia unwilling to back action against Syria

RUSSIA insisted that it would not back sanctions on Syria and accused the West of suffocating the Iranian economy as it warned against military intervention targeting either regime.

Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov indicated Russia’s willingness to wield its veto on the UN Security Council as Moscow sharpens its foreign policy line ahead of Vladimir Putin’s planned return to the Kremlin this year.

“For us, the red line is fairly clearly drawn. We will not support any sanctions” against Syria, Lavrov said, complaining that the West introduced measures against Damascus without consulting Russia or China.