Russian President Vladimir Putin On Friday criticized United States' decision to supply arms to the Syrian rebels, which he likened to arming "terrorist" groups.
The Russian president in an appearance with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at an economic forum in St. Petersburg, said the West including the United States should not supply arms to Syrian rebels because they include "terrorist" groups.
"If the United States... recognizes one of the key Syrian opposition organizations, al-Nusra, as terrorist... how can one deliver arms to those opposition members?'' said Vladimir Putin.
"Where will [those weapons] end up? What role will they play?'' said Putin, according to Reuters.
Defending Russia's support for the Syrian government under President Assad's regime, Putin reiterated that providing arms to a standing government doesn't violate any laws.
He said it was the West who was violating the laws by arming the Syrian rebels.
"It's clear that without deliveries from abroad, what is happening in Syria now would simply be impossible. Money is going in, weapons are going in, and well trained armed groups are going in,'' said Putin.
Russia is the main supplier of military aid to the standing government since the civil war broke out in March 2011.
President Barack Obama recently agreed to send direct military aid to the rebels in Syria saying the government had crossed the line by using chemical weapons against the rebel groups.
With each passing day, more people are being killed on both sides including a lot of innocent civilians. According to the United Nations, at least 93,000 people have been killed in the civil war and thousands are being forced to take refuge in neighboring countries like Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.
