-Russian Defense Ministry affirmed on Friday that Russia will not allow under any circumstances additional arms supplies to the areas controlled by militants in Aleppo, noting the possibility of opening humanitarian corridors not only from the city of Aleppo, but into the city if necessary.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov told journalists on Friday that Russia is ready to do everything it can in order to provide aid to the peaceful citizens and even militants who want to lay down their arms in the city of Aleppo, describing the process as purely humanitarian.

The Russian military official added that Russian Defense Ministry started, in cooperation with the Russian Foreign Ministry, working on attracting international humanitarian organizations to provide aid to civilians in the Syrian Arab Republic, adding that the two ministries directed invitations to their counterparts abroad and to the prominent countries to support the Russian side’s efforts to provide humanitarian aid to the people of the city of Aleppo.

He pointed out that the initial reactions to Russia’s request to support the humanitarian operation in Aleppo inspire some optimism, noting that the representatives of Doctors Without Borders, International Red Cross and the Office of UN Special Envoy for Syria said that any initiative that allows Syrian civilians to move to safer areas might be positive.

He said that the implementation of the humanitarian assistance plan on the ground requires accurate planning and preparation.

Russian Defense Ministry explains to foreign diplomats in Moscow approaches to operation in Syria

Russian Defense Ministry briefed the foreign diplomats accredited in Moscow on Russia’s stance towards the humanitarian aid operation for the civilians in Aleppo, the ministry’s press service reported on Thursday.

That came during a meeting of Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov with more than 50 diplomats from more than 30 countries gathered at the Patriot Park in Moscow on Thursday .

Russia Today quoted Antonov as saying that he discussed the statement of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to start a large-scale humanitarian operation in Aleppo.

“Special attention was paid to explaining Russian military approaches to the opening of humanitarian corridors, the creation of meal stations and the provision of first medical aid to the civilian population in Aleppo,”

The Russian Foreign Ministry called on military representatives of foreign countries to inform their capitals about the Russian initiative and consider a possibility of rendering assistance to the Syrian population