The Russian top diplomat warned there existed a certain risk of more provocations by Western countries against Syria

MOSCOW, April 23. /TASS/. The question of providing S-300 air defense systems to Syria has not been settled yet, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the media in Beijing on Monday. Lavrov’s reply was published on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s website.

"I cannot say that this question has been settled," Lavrov said. "We know what Russian President Vladimir Putin said. He has discussed such matters with an official of our Defense Ministry from the standpoint of preventing a situation where Syria might turn out insufficiently prepared for aggressive attacks, like the one that occurred on April 14. It remains to be seen what decisions will be made by the Russian leadership and Syrian officials. Apparently, no secrets are due here. All this can be announced." He warned there existed a certain risk of more provocations by Western countries against Syria. "Certainly, one should be prepared to see more provocations, although we have warned our US and European counterparts who participated in that adventure," he said. Moscow finds worrisome "the plans regarding Syria’s future our Western counterparts are hatching."

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