Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova
© Sputnik/ Ramil Sitdikov
The Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova held a weekly press-briefing in Moscow. Amongst other topics, Zakharova commented on the ongoing operation in Syria, and the ministry's agenda for the week ahead.

Russian, Qatari foreign ministers to discuss bilateral cooperation on December 25.

On the situation in Ukraine

Speaking about the situation in Donbas, Maria Zakharova said that the ceasefire on the line of contact in East Ukraine is becoming more fragile due to provocations made by the Ukrainian side.
"Unfortunately, we see that the ceasefire is becoming more fragile because of increased provocations."
However, Moscow hopes that the Donbas ceasefire will last longer than the New Year holidays, Zakharova said.

Middle East and Africa

Russia supported the UN resolution on Libya.
"We support restoring of the country's infrastructure and integrity."

"We have repeatedly said that we can settle the Libyan problem by allowing Libyan people to decide their future."
Daesh wants to get settled in Libya. We should prevent this scenario, the spokeswoman noted.

Speaking on the Yemeni crisis, Zakharova said Moscow welcomes that parts of the conflict have reached agreement during the talks on December 18.

On Syria

Speaking about Amnesty Intl's report on deaths among civilians, Zakharova said that Moscow has repeatedly denied the allegations. Amnesty International has provided no evidence.

Meanwhile, Moscow does not exclude that actions by the United States in the Middle East could have led to the migration crisis in Europe, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday.
"We are observing that the mass arrival of refugees to Europe from regions of the Middle East and Northern Africa development is related to the situation. This is a humanitarian catastrophe, and we haven't changed our assessment of this. The humanitarian catastrophe is the consequence of the irresponsible and short-sighted interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states with the goal of destabilizing them and forcibly changing objectionable governments in the region."

"We should prevent the invasion of terrorists to Europe under the guise of being refugees."
Oil smuggling in Turkey

Russian information about smuggling of Daesh oil in Turkey has been confirmed by other sources, Zakharova said. For example Danish newspaper Klassenkampen has published a report on Turkish participation in oil smuggling made by consulting company Rystad Energy.

Moscow is curious if Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will actually resign after information published in Norway on oil smuggling to Turkey by the Islamic State, known as Daesh in the Arab world and prohibited in a range of countries including Russia, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday.
"I would like to remind you that not too long ago, Turkish President Erdogan announced his readiness to resign if it is proven that oil deliveries by Ankara or with the help of the government of Ankara from the terrorist group [are taking place], that 'if this fact is proven, I'll leave this chair,' Erdogan told journalists on the sidelines of the climate summit in Paris. I'd like to understand: What's up with that chair?"
Russia is implementing all measures in countering oil smuggling by the Islamic State terrorist organization, known as Daesh in the Arab world and prohibited in a range of countries including Russia, and hopes that other countries will join in cooperating with Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday.
"As you know, and we've said this constantly, Russia is implementing measures in order to stop and close the paths of oil deliveries by terrorists. We hope for active actual cooperation with other countries in these goals."
On anti-Russian sanctions

The United States seeks to infringe upon Russian interests by expanding sanctions against Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday.
"We see no reasonable logic in these steps. The US political establishment seems to be motivated only by a desire to <...> make trouble for Russia."
The United States seeks to infringe upon Russian interests by expanding sanctions against Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday.

Q&A session

Answering the question about future of the Russian-Turkish relations, Zakharova noted that current crisis focused on the leadership, not the Turkish people.

Moscow is focusing on the worsening relations between Russia and Turkey, the latter of which is souring the situation in "7-mile steps," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told journalists.
"So far we see that the Turkish leadership is only making the situation worse and doing this using 7-mile steps."
Answering the question on civilians' deaths in Syria, Zakharova said that Russia is disclosing full information about its targets in Syria.