Putin vows to help Syria in case of military attack

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia - Russia will help Syria in case of an external military attack, President Vladimir Putin said here on Friday.

Asked by a reporter during a press conference of the G20 summit whether Russia will help Syria if the Middle East country suffers from an outside attack, Putin said "We will help Syria."

Moscow has been fulfilling its arms contract with Damascus, Putin said, adding it will strengthen cooperation with Syria in humanitarian sector.

According to the Russian president, the allegation of chemical weapons use in Syria is provocation of militants hoping for external support.

Earlier in the day, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said the G20 leaders on Thursday remained different during their working dinner over the settlement of the Syrian conflict, with an equal number of supporting and opposing urgent measures regardless of legitimate international authorization.

Putin said the half-half division over Syria was not correct, naming the United States, Turkey, Canada, Saudi Arabia and France as countries backing military operation against Syria, while Russia, China, India, Indonesia, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and Italy opposed the possible action, he said.

British Prime Minister David Cameron had advocated a military solution in Syria but its parliament ruled out the option, Putin added.

"The German federal chancellor is also extremely cautious. Germany is not going to get involved into any military operations."

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also opposed military actions against Syria without a UN mandate, Putin said.