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The growing number of violations of the ceasefire regime in Donbass is caused by the lack of Kiev’ control over the territorial battalions, head of the DPR delegation at the Minsk talks, Denis Pushilin stated on Friday. The peaceful settlement of the conflict “are not the aim of the radicals in the territorial battalions and some political entities of Ukraine.” Kiev forces shelled the northern suburb of Donetsk, including the embattled airport area, overnight to Friday. The nubmer of violations from the Kiev side is growing.
Russian and Syrian military have killed terrorists in the search area of the downed Russian Su-24 jet. “The moment our pilot was in safety the area was heavily bombed by the Russian Air Force and shelled by Syrian government forces artillery,” ministry spokesman General-Major Igor Konashenkov told a media briefing. He stressed that terrorists and other “mysterious groups” were killed in the assault. He added the Turkish General Staff had denied Russia access to any materials related to the downing of the Russian Su-24 jet by a Turkish F-16. Turks also aren’t able to provide any recording of the radio communications between the pilots. Russia suspended all channels of the military cooperation with Turkey on Thursday.
Commercial-scale oil smuggling from ISIS controlled territory into Turkey must be stopped, Putin said after meeting French President Francois Hollande in Moscow. ISIS’ daring and impudent oil smuggling into Turkey should become a high-priority target in order to cripple the terrorist group. Hollande backs this aim agreeing that the source of terrorist financing must be hit first and foremost.
Germany has agreed to support the French aerial campaign against ISIS. Germany will send between four and six Tornado reconnaissance planes and a frigate to protect France’s Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier stationed in the Mediterranean. Germany also plans to share its satellite intelligence data on ISIS with France. The announcement comes as the French president visits Moscow. During the visit he agreed with the Russian leader that the two countries would unite their efforts against the “common enemy” and will share data on terrorist in Syria.
I’m not naive enough to believe that Hollande is surprised by a terror attack in Paris. I believe that France working with Russia is a pretext to move heavy weaponry into Syria to use against Russia at a later, but very near, date. I would expect other NATO countries to also pledge support for Putin’s coalition and move weapons into Syria.
On a related note, I believe one of Putin’s efforts of retaliation against Turkey’s act of war will be to increase the number and role of armored and special forces combat units into the fight against ISIS. Unfortunately, this will be used as a precedent for France and other NATO members to move troops into Syria, who will battle Russia when they feel they have a tactical advantage.
Just like the Islamic warriors are staging troops in Europe, under cover of the migrant crisis, so too will the West stage its army in Syria, in the spirit of friendship and co-operation. Putin is being set up for war if he allows France, or any other NATO country, to move a significant force in.