Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that his country would not arm the Syrian Kurds. That said, the Russian leader noted that the fact that the Kurds were engaged in the fight against the Islamic State meant that Moscow would maintain working contact with them, even if it is only to avoid accidental clashes.
“Unlike other countries we don’t announce about arms deliveries to Kurdish formations. And they don’t need our deliveries, they have other sources to get arms.” / “As Kuridsh factor is the real one for a situation in Syria and Kurdish military formations take part in battle operations against the so called Islamic State and are one of the most combat-effective units, we think we have a right to continue work contacts with them, at least in order to avoid possible fights and situations which could create a threat to our servicemen,” said Putin
The comments by President Putin came after his American counterpart Donald Trump decided to arm the Kurdish militias operating in Syria, which Washington views as helpful in the fight against the Islamic State, a move which was strongly objected by Turkey, which sees the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, PKK, an internationally recognized terrorist organization.