#Russia warships will not refuel in #Spain

Russia has withdrawn a request for three warships to dock at the Spanish port of Ceuta for refuelling, following concern among NATO allies.

The Spanish foreign ministry says the stopovers have now been cancelled.

Spain had been under pressure from NATO allies not to allow the refuelling of the Russian warships bound for Syria.

Russia's defence ministry later said no request had been sent for the main vessel, aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, to be refuelled in Ceuta.

In a statement (in Russian), the ministry said the Russian vessels had the necessary resources to carry out tasks.

The ministry added that it had considered - upon agreement with Spain - the possibility of a "business" docking of some of the ships or a maintenance ship into Ceuta's port.

Russia's battle group has been sailing for the past week from Russia to the Mediterranean.

"Given the information which appeared on the possibility that these ships would participate in supporting military action in the Syrian city of Aleppo, the ministry of foreign affairs requested clarification from the embassy of the Russian Federation in Madrid," the Spanish foreign ministry said earlier on Wednesday (26 October) in a statement.

It added that permission had been granted in September for three Russian ships to dock in Ceuta between 28 October and 2 November. It said such stops for Russian naval vessels had taken place for years in Spanish ports.

But following its request for clarification, the ministry said, the Russian embassy in Madrid said it was withdrawing its request for refuelling.

The Russian embassy has confirmed the withdrawal.

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