Russia is losing its influence in Syria and Ukraine, U.S. President Barack Obama said in his latest State of the Union Address to Congress on Tuesday, according to the White House press office.
“Even as their economy contracts, Russia is pouring resources to prop up Ukraine and Syria — states they see slipping away from their orbit,” Obama said.
He said that the post-war international system is now struggling to adjust to the new reality and that the U.S. will help to rebuild this system.
Obama also said that he will call on Congress to sanction the use of military force against the Islamic State terrorist organization.
“When it comes to every important international issue, people of the world do not look to Beijing or Moscow to lead? — ?they call us,” Obama said.
Both Russia and the U.S. are currently conducting air strikes in Syria. The U.S. is providing surveillance and training assistance to Syrian opposition fighters. Russia, on the other hand, supports the Syrian government and embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Russia claims that its air strikes are directed against the Islamic State, but international observers repeatedly accusing it of bombing Syrian opposition forces to aid Assad's army.
The Islamic State is a terrorist organization banned in Russia.
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