Russia offered NATO to use its airport at Ulyanovsk, in case the Manas Airport closes, to send troops to Afghanistan, KirTAG reports.
Russia has been allowing the US to use its railway for three years to supply the forces in Afghanistan.
According to the new plan, military aircraft will fly from Baku over Middle Asia and land in Ulyanovsk, travelling 3,000 km.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says that the initiative meets Russian interests because it will help withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan by December 2014.
The idea was announced a day after US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was informed about Kyrgyzstan’s refusal to prolong lease of the Manas Airport for the US after July 2014.
Joshua Kuchera, a security specialist for Middle Asia in Washington, said that negotiations on the lease should start with the new Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev. Ulyanovsk will be an auxiliary solution, in case Pakistan does not allow transit.
