Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in Damascus on Saturday that his country "will not remain passive" as militants push an offensive in Syria’s neighbor Iraq

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in Damascus on Saturday that his country "will not remain passive" as militants push an offensive in Syria's neighbor Iraq.
  
"Russia will not remain passive to the attempts by some groups to spread terrorism in the region," Ryabkov told journalists after meeting with President Bashar al-Assad.

"The situation is very dangerous in Iraq and the foundations of the Iraqi state are under threat," he said. Ryabkov also reiterated Moscow's position that the crises in Syria and Iraq must be resolved "through a genuine national dialogue".
  
Asked about Washington's decision to support “moderate rebels” in Syria, Ryabkov said: "There can be no alternative to a political solution." He added: "We reject this US policy. It is in everybody's interest, including the Americans, to act responsibly on Syria."

Ryabkov said Damascus had taken a "responsible" decision in handing over its chemical weapons arsenal, while calling on the Zionist entity to "abide by" the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.