US rejects Russia’s offer, saying it was made out of Putin’s ‘desperation’
The United States says sending the “second-highest ranking official” to the country for coordination in airstrikes both Russia and the United States are carrying out in Syria is not enough for Washington, reducing coordination to video link-ups among defense officials.
The Obama administration has rejected Moscow’s offer to send a high-ranking delegation to Washington, headed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
Washington said the move had been made out of President Vladimir Putin’s desperation in Syria, where Russian forces have been bombarding Daesh terrorists’ positions.
“We’re not interested in doing that, as long as Russia is not willing to make a constructive contribution to our counter-ISIL effort,” said White House press secretary Josh Earnest.
By the effort, Earnest was referring to a US-led coalition allegedly against the Takfiris in Syria and neighboring Iraq which has apparently failed to “degrade and ultimately destroy” them as President Barack Obama had promised.
Russia, however, reports of destroying more and more ISIL elements and facilities on a daily basis.
“Russia has their own agenda and it’s an agenda right now that they’re pursuing on their own. So it’s not particularly surprising to me that President Putin would resort, in some desperation, to try to send the second-highest ranking official in the Russian government to the United States to try to convince us to join them. But the fact is that is a request that’s fallen on deaf ears.”
Video link-up
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry's press service said defense officials from Russian and the US held a third video link-up over an air safety agreement in Syria.
"We are getting closer in the positions on key items of the would-be document," the ministry said. "The sides' further steps have been coordinated."
"The discussion like the previous ones is professional and was held in a constructive atmosphere," it said.
On Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov censured the White House rejection, saying, “We have been told it is not possible to send the delegation to Moscow as well as to receive the delegation in Washington.”
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