Russian Defense Minister's visit to Damascus
sends clear messages to West, Zionist regime

Qodsna (Tehran) - Speaking with Qods News Agency, the Director General of the Beirut Center for Strategic Studies Talal Atrisi stressed that “I want to say with certainty that the sudden visit of the Russian Defense Minister to Damascus is related to the recent developments in Ukraine and the tense policies of the United States and Western countries against Russia.”

"The clear message of Sergei Shoigu's visit to Syria is that Russia has the ability to open new fronts of conflict in other regions. In fact, Russia, using its presence in the Middle East and in coordination with Syria, could create new fronts of conflict in the heart of the Middle East in the face of intense pressure from Ukraine,” Atrisi said.

Asked whether the developments in Ukraine could lead to a change in Moscow's relations with the West, as well as to the Zionist regime in particular, the Lebanese expert said: "A change in Russia's approach to Israel will be a temporary change, but in the future any change is possible if there is an escalation of tensions on the Ukraine crisis.”

"Information shows that Russia has recently installed radio equipment to disturb telecommunications systems in the region, especially in the occupied Golan Heights, which has disrupted Israeli flights. It has angered Tel Aviv leaders," Atrisi said.

What Russia is doing in Syria sends clear messages to Israel and the West, especially that in recent days the Zionist regime has taken a position in support of Ukraine. In this case any move by Moscow in the near future is a reaction to the recent movements of the Zionists,” he added.

Atrisi also highlighted that it is not reasonable to expet “a radical change in Russian-Israeli relations, and certainly after the end of the crisis in Ukraine, Russia's position on Tel Aviv will return to normal.”

“Syria is an arena for Russia to show its strength. If the intensity of tensions in Ukraine does not decrease, we may see more tensions in Syria,” Atrisi noted.

News-ID: O.T-70