Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that foreigners should be allowed to join the war against Ukrainian forces and approved the handover of captured Western missile systems to Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Putin, speaking at a Russian Security Council meeting on March 11, said he supported the idea of allowing foreign individuals to join Russian-backed forces in Ukraine after Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said some 16,000 "volunteers" from the Middle East were ready to come to fight in the war on the Russian side.
"If you see that there are people who want on a voluntary basis [to help the separatists in eastern Ukraine], then you need to meet them halfway and help them move to combat zones," Putin said during the televised meeting.
Putin also agreed with Shoigu's proposal to give captured U.S.-made anti-tank systems such as Javelins and Stingers to fighters from the areas in eastern Ukraine under separatist control.
'Volunteers' Welcome To Fight In Ukraine War, Putin Says
Russian President Vladimir Putin (file photo)