Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledges that the deadly terrorist attack at a rock concert was carried out by radical Islamists, despite previous resistance to this classification. He accuses the United States of trying to cover up the true motivating force behind the attack, claiming it was the work of Islamist terrorists in conjunction with Ukrainians.
Key Points
Putin acknowledges the attack was carried out by radical Islamists
Accusations of the U.S. trying to shift blame to ISIS and away from Ukraine
Claims that Ukraine is secretly arming Islamist terrorists to attack Russia
Pros
Acknowledgment of the true perpetrators of the terrorist attack
Highlighting the ongoing battle against Islamist terror in Russia
Cons
Accusations of the United States attempting to cover up the truth
Escalating tensions and accusations between Russia and Ukraine