Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday it is possible the chemical weapons incident that provoked the US to strike a Syrian airbase last week was “an orchestrated event,” local media reported. During an interview with Russian TV station, the president stated that a “provocation” remains among the main versions of the transpired incident currently being considered by Moscow.
Putin noted that a number of scenarios are possible concerning the alleged chemical weapons usage. The Russian chief stated that the first version assumes “the Syrian aircraft hit an underground [extremists’] workshop for the production of chemical warfare agents.”
The second version, according to Putin, was set up “to cause an uproar and create pre-requisites, a pretext for exerting additional pressure on the legitimate Syrian authorities.” However, the Russia president said that recent events call for a proper international investigation. “Without a check, we do not consider it possible to take any steps aimed against official Syrian authorities,” Putin concluded.
