[PIF]

That will depend on how long the Russians decide to hang around.

—

Right. But first, they will be holding a major exercise with the Syrians and then, well, we’ll have to see. Things are definatively heating up.

[Tommyjo]

Nothing is heating up. The Russians won't be holding any major exercise with the Syrians. The Syrian forces have got enough to deal with internally. I don't think exercising with the Russians is high on their priority list?

The Kuznetsov carrier battle group is in no rush to get to Syria either as they have just headed out into the Atlantic for continued exercises. If Russia was coming to defend Syria the carrier battle group would be steaming with all speed to Syrian waters.

The only Russian warship (Frigate Ladnyy) currently in the Mediterranean has just recently visited Malta and is on its way to France.

Russian Frigate visits Malta