Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting in Moscow on Feb 28, 2020. (Alexey DRUZHININ / SPUTNIK / AFP)

MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia does not plan to go to war with anyone, but wants to dissuade other countries from engaging in conflict with Moscow, the TASS news agency reported on Monday.

Putin made the comments in a TASS interview which the Russian news agency began releasing extracts of in instalments on Feb 20. Monday’s comments were included in the sixth such instalment.

ALSO READ: Turkey strikes Syrian planes & airports, escalating Idlib fight

The publication of the remarks came amid rising tensions in Syria’s Idlib region where Russia is backing Syrian government forces against Turkey.