Russian President Vladimir Putin says that the country has strong grounds to believe that Syrian rebels were responsible for the chemical attack.
Putin said on Thursday that “we have every reason to believe that it was a provocation, a sly and ingenious one.” He added, however, that its perpetrators relied on “primitive” technology, using old Soviet-made ammunition no longer used by the Syrian Army.
The US, Britain, France and others believe that a report by UN inspectors has proven the attack was conducted by the Syrian military.
Putin expressed optimism when asked whether he trusts Syrian President Bashar Assad to fulfill Russia's plan for Syria to surrender its chemical weapons and avoid a US strike. He said Damascus' actions so far have given reason to believe the initiative will be implemented.