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Russia has withdrawn a request for three warships to dock at the Spanish port of Ceuta for refuelling, following concern among Nato allies.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, the ministry said, the Russian vessels had the necessary resources to carry out tasks. Moscow’s decision comes against a backdrop of increasing tensions between Russia and the West over the war in Syria, as well as the conflict in Ukraine.