Iraqi Vice President: Russia saves Middle East

If it were not for Russia, the Syrian government would have fallen, followed by Baghdad, the map of the entire Middle Eastern region would have changed, Iraqi Vice President Nouri al-Maliki said.

"I have said this before and I will repeat it again – if it were not for the Russian stance, the region would be fully destroyed, its map would be new and unusual," Sputnik cited al-Maliki as saying.

"Without Russia’s approach to the Syrian issue which differs from the one of the United States, the Syrian regime would have fallen, terrorists would have intensified their actions thanks to this, the regional map would change and in the end it would lead to the fall of Baghdad," he added.