The United States and Germany are urging Russia not to provide Syria with an advanced air defense system that they believe could prolong Syria's civil war.

 

　　US Secretary of State John Kerry says Russia's transfer of the S-300 missiles would be "not helpful" while efforts are made to find a peaceful solution to the Syria conflict.

 

　　"In Geneva we will test who is serious. Are the Russians serious about pushing for that? I believe they are. Now, it is not helpful to have the S-300 transferred to region while you are trying to organize this peace and create peace. It is not helpful to have a lot of other ammunition and other supplies overtly going in, not just from the Russians, but also from the Iranians and Hezbollah."

 

　　Kerry made the comments in Washington after meeting German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.

 

　　Westerwelle said Russia must not "endanger" peace talks, which were planned for Geneva next month, but have been delayed until July at the earliest.

 

　　The German foreign minister called weapons deliveries to the Syrian government "totally wrong."

 

　　The US and German responses came a day after Syrian president Bashar Assad suggested his government received a first shipment of the S-300 missiles from Russia.

 

　　Russian officials have said they will supply the S-300s to Syria under an existing contract.

 

　　They have also said that they will try to convince the Assad government to participate in the Geneva peace talks.

 

　　But the Syrian opposition has said it will not attend the conference while massacres are continuing.