The assistance that Russia lends to the government of President Bashar Assad in resolving the Syrian crisis is “not unconditional,” Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov told AP, adding that Moscow cannot just make Assad follow its orders.
Russia and the Syrian government are engaged into “a relationship of cooperation, of exchange of views and full mutual support,” Peskov said, stressing that their relations are equitable and not hierarchical.
He admitted that Moscow’s support of Damascus is not unconditional by saying that "unconditional support is not possible in this current world," but stressed that "it is not correct to say that Moscow can convince Mr. Assad to do whatever is wanted in Moscow.”
“This is totally wrong,” he said, referring to any assumptions suggesting that Moscow can direct Damascus’ actions. Peskov’s remarks came just two days after a suspected chemical weapons incident claimed lives of dozens of people in the Syrian Idlib province.