The Russian leader offered his condolences over the recent execution of 21 Egyptian Christian Copts by Islamic State (IS) militants. The video of the beheading was published Sunday.
“The president of Russia reiterated that the Russian side is ready for closest cooperation possible in the fight against all aspects of the terrorism threat,” the Kremlin press service said in a statement.
The Islamic State is a jihadist group notorious for its human rights abuses, multiple kidnappings and killings. In 2014, it took vast territories in Iraq and Syria under its control and proclaimed an Islamic caliphate. The group’s affiliates also operate in North Africa.
Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in a phone conversation with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Hassan Shoukry also stressed Russia's readiness to join Egypt in battling the terror threat.
