Russia: Russian FM spokesperson attacks CNN and New York Times over biased coverage

And one more myth which still exists despite all our efforts. I mean the planning of Russia’s ground operation on Syrian territory. I would like to make a special appeal to such media outlets like CNN and the New York Times. If you make such claims and continue to refer to some unnamed sources, please make sure that you publish our comment as well: such operations are not discussed and not planned. And please quote the Russian authorities because, in my opinion, the articles in which anonymous Pentagon sources are mentioned should also contain references to official Russian sources. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, attacked CNN and the New York Times in Moscow on Thursday, accusing them of bias in their reporting of Russia’s airstrikes on Syria. Zakharova made a “special appeal to such media outlets like CNN and the New York Times” to “contain references to official Russian sources.” The spokesperson was speaking in reference to speculation of “the planning of Russia’s ground operation on Syrian territory,” an action that Moscow has ruled out, saying it will restrict itself to an air campaign as well as missile strikes. The spokesperson explicitly denied that there is any movement towards a ground attack, stating that “such operations are not discussed and not planned.” She demanded that “if you make such claims and continue to refer to some unnamed sources, please make sure that you publish our comments as well.” Earlier Zakharova claimed that “those who are not terrorists and who do not coordinate their actions with terrorists have nothing to be afraid of” when it comes to Russia’s airstrikes. The ultimate goal of Russia in Syria, according to Zakharova, is “combatting terrorists and the acceleration of the political settlement.”