Putin Says Russia, Iraq Expanding Military Cooperation

Russian President Vladimir Putin said during talks with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on May 21 that Moscow and Baghdad are expanding military cooperation.

Putin called Iraq Russia's "long-standing and reliable partner" in the region.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said before the talks began that Moscow was ready to supply weapons to Iraq to help it combat Islamic State (IS) militants.

Lavrov said that Russia's military cooperation with Iraq requires "no preconditions."

Abadi also met his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, during his visit to Russia aimed at boosting cooperation in the fight against the IS, which has made further territorial gains in Iraq and Syria recently.

Russia last year delivered Mi-28 attack helicopters to the Iraqi military.

Based on reporting by AFP and TASS