Russian MoD Denies Reports of Aircraft Carrier's Call to Refuel in Spain

Sputnik News

20:10 26.10.2016(updated 20:11 26.10.2016)

The Russian Defense Ministry said it had not asked Spain for refueling the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier currently en route to the Mediterranean.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Russian Defense Ministry denies foreign media speculation of an alleged plan for the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier to refuel at the Spanish port of Ceuta, the ministry's spokesman said Wednesday.

"The Russian Defense Ministry has sent no requests to Spanish authorities on the entry of the Admiral Kuznetsov heavy aircraft carrier for refueling in the port of Ceuta," Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.

The Russian naval carrier group is fully resourced to perform tasks autonomously, Konashenkov added.

The Russian Defense Ministry has allowed for the possibility of a prearranged business call into the Spanish port of Ceuta, the ministry's spokesman said Wednesday.

"After passing the Strait of Gibraltar, the Russian Defense Ministry envisaged the possibility of a business call by individual ships or maintenance vessels from the Russian naval group in coordination with the Spanish side," Konashenkov said.

He added that Madrid had informed Moscow of pressure from the United States and NATO of the "inexpediency" of the entry into the Ceuta port by Russian ships.

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