Russia "could agree" to use of force if guilt proved

MOSCOW Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned Western countries not to take any unilateral action against Syria. At the same time, Putin did not rule out the possibility that Moscow could support a UN resolution that would approve the use of force against Syria. Russia "could agree" to use of force if guilt proved In an interview with the Associated Press and the Russian state television Channel One last night, the president spoke about the hypothetical possibility that Moscow could support a UN resolution "if it is proven that Damascus had used chemical weapons." Putin was interviewed before the G20 summit due to take place on Thursday and Friday in St. Petersburg. The Russian leader expressed hope that he and U.S. President Barack Obama would have "serious talks" in St. Petersburg. An official bilateral meeting between the two is not planned, but it is possible that the leaders of the two countries will talk on the sidelines of the summit, said a White House official. "We expect that the presidents will have the opportunity to talk on the sidelines of the G20," said the unnamed source. The White House official also stated that Obama will, also on the sidelines of the gathering, have bilateral meetings with the leaders of France and China. This G20 summit will be dominated by the issue of Syria. The Russian president has previously said that the summit would be "good ground" to consider the crisis in Syria. Although he noted the gathering would not be "a substitute" for the UN Security Council, Putin added that this opportunity should be used to consider the situation in the Middle Eastern country. (Beta/AP, file) Beta Tanjug

Russia "could agree" to use of force if guilt proved

In an interview with the Associated Press and the Russian state television Channel One last night, the president spoke about the hypothetical possibility that Moscow could support a UN resolution "if it is proven that Damascus had used chemical weapons."

Putin was interviewed before the G20 summit due to take place on Thursday and Friday in St. Petersburg.

The Russian leader expressed hope that he and U.S. President Barack Obama would have "serious talks" in St. Petersburg.

An official bilateral meeting between the two is not planned, but it is possible that the leaders of the two countries will talk on the sidelines of the summit, said a White House official.

"We expect that the presidents will have the opportunity to talk on the sidelines of the G20," said the unnamed source.

The White House official also stated that Obama will, also on the sidelines of the gathering, have bilateral meetings with the leaders of France and China.

This G20 summit will be dominated by the issue of Syria.

The Russian president has previously said that the summit would be "good ground" to consider the crisis in Syria.

Although he noted the gathering would not be "a substitute" for the UN Security Council, Putin added that this opportunity should be used to consider the situation in the Middle Eastern country.