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Kremlin Denies Reports on Bolton's Warning About Strikes on Syria

© AP Photo / Hassan AmmarDamascus sky lights up with service to air missile fire as the U.S. launches an attack on Syria targeting different parts of the Syrian capital Damascus, Syria, early Saturday, April 14, 2018.
Damascus sky lights up with service to air missile fire as the U.S. launches an attack on Syria targeting different parts of the Syrian capital Damascus, Syria, early Saturday, April 14, 2018. - Sputnik International
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Kremlin cannot confirm that US Security Adviser John Bolton had reportedly warned Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev about possible strikes on Syria in case of a "chemical attack," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

"No," Peskov told reporters when asked whether he could confirm that there had been such a warning.

On Saturday, media reported citing sources that Bolton told Patrushev at the Thursday talks in Geneva that the United States was ready to take military action if Damascus used chemical weapons in the Idlib province.

Earlier in the day, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Rybkov said that Bolton's statements on Syria and threats were likely to be the only language that the US has used.

Kremlin spokesman also noted that Russia's expenditures on its defense capacity, including during the Vostok 2018 military exercises, are justified in the current international situation.

READ MORE: Trump, Merkel Call for Intl Action to Prevent Humanitarian Crisis in Idlib

"The country's defense capability in the current international situation, which is often very aggressive and unfriendly toward our country, is justified, necessary and has no alternative," Peskov told reporters when asked about Russia's expenditures on the Vostok drills.

From right: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meets with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu - Sputnik International
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Turkey Interested in Eliminating Militants in Syria's Idlib - Foreign Minister
On Tuesday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that approximately 300,000 servicemen, 36,000 tanks, armored personnel carriers and other vehicles, more than a thousand aircraft will be involved in the Vostok-2018 military drills that are set to become Russia's largest military exercises since the Zapad drills in 1981.

Russia, alongside Iran and Turkey, is a guarantor of the ceasefire regime in Syria. Moscow has also been assisting Damascus both through supporting the struggle against terrorist groups and providing humanitarian aid to the residents of the crisis-torn country.

Syria has been devastated by years of violent military conflict which with government forces fighting multiple militant and terror groups.

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