Moscow warns Washington against ’reckless steps’ in Syria

Reacting to comments by US National Security Adviser John Bolton about Washington’s possible strong reaction in the event of a chemical or biological attack in the Syrian city of Idlib, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said: “We warn the Americans and their allies against taking new reckless steps in Syria.”

“We are hearing ultimatums from Washington ... and it does not affect our determination to continue our policy for the in Syria and the return of this country to a normal life,” RIA quoted Ryabkov as saying.

Idlib, a refuge for civilians and rebels displaced from other areas of Syria as well as powerful opposition forces, was hit by a wave of air strikes and shelling this month, in a possible prelude to a full-scale Assad offensive.

Russia earlier this week presented proposals to the Turkish authorities on resolving the situation in Idlib, a northwestern Syrian region that borders Turkey.

Assad regime’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem is set to visit Moscow at the end of the month.