US asks EU not to support Russian tanker ship carrying fuel for Syria

Washington believes that other states should not support any Russian tanker ship carrying fuel to Syria, the US State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said.

"While the decision to allow a port call is a national determination, we believe that states in the region should not support any Russian tanker ship carrying fuel to be used in ongoing air strikes on civilians and civilian infrastructure in Syria," he said.

At least two Russian-flagged ships made deliveries via Cyprus, an intelligence source with a European Union government told Reuters. 

The Russian Defense Ministry’s spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, said that the EU sanctions on fuel supplies to Syria did not not affect the Russian air group based at the Hmeimim airbase.