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Russia ‘close’ to joining forces with US on Aleppo: minister

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Russia is close to joining forces with the United States around Syria's ravaged second city of Aleppo, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said in comments aired Monday.

"Step by step we are getting closer to the situation in which -- and I'm only speaking about Aleppo here -- we will be able to begin battling together so that there is peace on this territory," Shoigu told Rossiya 24 television.

In the interview conducted on Saturday but shown only Monday, Shoigu said Moscow is in close negotiations regarding the city, where Russian planes and regime forces are battling rebels for control.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (R) shake hands duri...
Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (R) shake hands during a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin wall
Natalia Kolesnikova, AFP

Shoigu said Moscow and Washington are still deeply at odds over the situation in Aleppo, accusing rebels of holding civilians hostage and waging brutal suicide bombings.

"In the eastern part of Aleppo, people are hostages," he said, accusing the rebels of planting bombs along escape routes established by Russia and of staging executions.

He blasted accusations that Moscow has imposed a blockade on rebel-held areas, calling them "untrue" and "propaganda".

The battle for Aleppo
The battle for Aleppo
, AFP

He said suicide attacks by rebels have included loading an armoured vehicle with explosives and welding it shut.

"That's moderate opposition? Who is this?" he said.

"There are many issues there that we are yet to decide on with our American colleagues," he said of Aleppo. "We are now in a very active stage of negotiations with American colleagues."

Russia is close to joining forces with the United States around Syria’s ravaged second city of Aleppo, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said in comments aired Monday.

“Step by step we are getting closer to the situation in which — and I’m only speaking about Aleppo here — we will be able to begin battling together so that there is peace on this territory,” Shoigu told Rossiya 24 television.

In the interview conducted on Saturday but shown only Monday, Shoigu said Moscow is in close negotiations regarding the city, where Russian planes and regime forces are battling rebels for control.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (R) shake hands duri...

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (R) shake hands during a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin wall
Natalia Kolesnikova, AFP

Shoigu said Moscow and Washington are still deeply at odds over the situation in Aleppo, accusing rebels of holding civilians hostage and waging brutal suicide bombings.

“In the eastern part of Aleppo, people are hostages,” he said, accusing the rebels of planting bombs along escape routes established by Russia and of staging executions.

He blasted accusations that Moscow has imposed a blockade on rebel-held areas, calling them “untrue” and “propaganda”.

The battle for Aleppo

The battle for Aleppo
, AFP

He said suicide attacks by rebels have included loading an armoured vehicle with explosives and welding it shut.

“That’s moderate opposition? Who is this?” he said.

“There are many issues there that we are yet to decide on with our American colleagues,” he said of Aleppo. “We are now in a very active stage of negotiations with American colleagues.”

AFP
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With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

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