Ankara, Turkey: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday expressed hope a meeting of the world's chemical weapons watchdog would put a "full stop" to the issue of an ex-spy whose poisoning in Britain has been blamed on Moscow.
"We hope that during those discussions a full stop will be placed on (the issue of) what happened" to former spy Sergei Skripal," Putin said in Ankara ahead of the meeting on Wednesday of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
The OPCW said Russia had asked for the meeting but London has already accused Moscow of requesting the OPCW talks as a "diversionary tactic".
Putin said he had been informed of comments earlier Tuesday by the British military facility analysing the nerve agent used to poison Skripal that it could not prove the substance was made in Russia.
"Concerning this, it is above all surprising the speed with which an anti-Russian campaign was begun," commented Putin after talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
He argued that experts have said that such nerve agents could have been made in some 20 countries.
Putin reaffirmed that Russia wanted to take part in the investigation, noting that the victims of the poisoning -- Skripal and his daughter Yulia -- were both Russian nationals.
"We have an interest in a full investigation and want Russia to be allowed to take part in that investigation," he said.
While EU powers have rushed to join Britain in condemning Russia and expelling diplomats over the attack on Skripal, Turkey has been much more circumspect.
Erdogan, who in 2017 held eight face-to-face meetings with Putin, has said that Ankara will not act against Moscow "based on an allegation".
"We hope that during those discussions a full stop will be placed on (the issue of) what happened" to former spy Sergei Skripal," Putin said in Ankara ahead of the meeting on Wednesday of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
Putin said he had been informed of comments earlier Tuesday by the British military facility analysing the nerve agent used to poison Skripal that it could not prove the substance was made in Russia.
Advertisement
He argued that experts have said that such nerve agents could have been made in some 20 countries.
Advertisement
"We have an interest in a full investigation and want Russia to be allowed to take part in that investigation," he said.
Advertisement
Erdogan, who in 2017 held eight face-to-face meetings with Putin, has said that Ankara will not act against Moscow "based on an allegation".
COMMENTS
Advertisement
US Welcomes India's Engagement In War Between Russia, Ukraine India Urges Citizens In Russian Regions To Relocate Over Security Concerns Ukrainian Troops Moving Further In Russia's Kursk, Says Zelensky Vandalism At Kolkata Hospital Where Doctor Was Raped, Tear Gas Fired 150 mg Semen In Kolkata Doctor's Body, Suspect Gang-Rape: Parents To Court Starbucks' Indian-Origin CEO, Recently Fired, Never Worked Past 6 pm Independence Day 2024 Live Updates: PM Modi To Address Nation From Red Fort PM Modi To Address Nation From Red Fort On 78th Independence Day Today Delhi Airport Becomes 1st To Achieve Net Zero Carbon Emission Status Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.