Image copyright EPA Image caption The Admiral Kuznetsov will join Russian vessels already off the Syrian coast

Russia has withdrawn a request for three warships to dock at the Spanish port of Ceuta for refuelling, following concern among Nato allies.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 (in Russian), the ministry said the Russian vessels had the necessary resources to carry out tasks.

The ministry added that it had considered - upon agreement with Spain - the possibility of a "business" docking of some of the ships or a maintenance ship into Ceuta's port.

Russia's battle group has been sailing for the past week from Russia to the Mediterranean.

'We are concerned'

"Given the information which appeared on the possibility that these ships would participate in supporting military action in the Syrian city of Aleppo, the ministry of foreign affairs requested clarification from the embassy of the Russian Federation in Madrid," the Spanish foreign ministry said earlier on Wednesday in a statement to the BBC.

It added that permission had been granted in September for three Russian ships to dock in Ceuta between 28 October and 2 November. It said such stops for Russian naval vessels had taken place for years in Spanish ports.

But following its request for clarification, the ministry said, the Russian embassy in Madrid said it was withdrawing its request for refuelling.

The Russian embassy has confirmed the withdrawal.

Nato had earlier expressed concern that the ships could be used to help bomb civilians in Aleppo, but said the final decision on resupply rested with Spain.

Nato's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg had warned that warships could be used to target civilians in Syria.

"We are concerned and I have expressed that very clearly about the potential use of this battle group to increase Russia's ability and to be a platform for air strikes against Syria," he told journalists on Tuesday.

Image copyright PA

Storm in a petrol pump - Jonathan Marcus, defence correspondent, BBC News

In the end it was little more than a storm in a petrol pump.

Russia withdrew its request to refuel its warships in a Spanish port, and so Moscow and Madrid both found a diplomatic way to get themselves off a difficult hook.

But the passions aroused by Spain's apparent willingness to refuel Russian vessels were real, especially since this time the Russian task group was on its way - as the British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon put it - "to bomb Syrian civilians in Aleppo".

How would it look, just as Nato defence ministers met to strengthen their forces in the Baltic, in Poland and around the Black Sea, if one of their members was helping a Russian task group on its way to a conflict where many Nato governments have accused Moscow of carrying out war crimes through its indiscriminate bombing?

Image copyright EPA Image caption The warships were expected to pass through the Strait of Gibraltar on Wednesday

Led by Russia's only aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, the naval group includes a nuclear-powered battle cruiser, two anti-submarine warships and four support vessels, probably escorted by submarines.

The battle group carries dozens of fighter bombers and helicopters and is expected to join about 10 other Russian vessels already off the Syrian coast.

Some 2,700 people have been killed or injured since the Russian-backed Syrian offensive started last month, according to activists.

Western leaders have said Russian and Syrian air strikes on Aleppo could amount to war crimes, an accusation rejected by Russia.

About 250,000 civilians who live in Aleppo have been trapped by the fighting. Moscow announced last week a "humanitarian pause" in attacks as part of a plan to allow civilians and fighters to leave the area.</s>Russia on Wednesday withdrew its request to refuel in Spain a fleet of Russian warships, amid pressure from Britain and NATO who raised concerns that the ships could be used to ramp up air attacks in Syria.

Vasily Nioradze, spokesman at the Russian embassy in Madrid, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the request has been canceled, but he gave no details.

The Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and a task group of support vessels have steamed through the North Sea and English Channel in recent days heading to the Mediterranean Sea. Britain piled diplomatic pressure on NATO ally Spain earlier Wednesday, expressing concern that Madrid was considering refueling the warships.

U.K. Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said on Wednesday "we would be extremely concerned if a NATO member should consider assisting a Russian carrier group that might end up bombing Syria."

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, speaking at a meeting of Alliance defense ministers in Brussels on Wednesday, said the deployment raises concerns that air assaults could increase in Syria, notably in the besieged city of Aleppo.

Blaming Russia for exacerbating a humanitarian disaster there, Stoltenberg said that "men, women and children are dying every day, killed by disgraceful attacks on their homes and even their hospitals."

He noted that all 28 allies are aware of NATO's concern that the Russian ships could be used by Russia as a platform to bomb Aleppo and elsewhere in support of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Before Russia withdrew the request, Spain had said it was reconsidering whether to allow the flotilla to refuel in its North African enclave of Ceuta.

The Spanish foreign ministry said in a statement that Russian Navy ships have been stopping in Spanish ports for years and that requests "are approved case by case, depending on the characteristics of the vessel."</s>Russia has withdrawn a request for a carrier battle group to refuel in Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta, the Spanish Foreign Ministry said, after NATO allies criticised Madrid for assisting warships they believe could be used to target civilians in Syria.

“The Russian Embassy in Madrid has just informed us that it is withdrawing the request for permission for stopovers for these ships and these stopovers have therefore been cancelled,” the ministry said.</s>Russia has withdrawn its request to refuel warships destined for Syria in Spain, amid mounting pressure on the Spanish government to block the stop.

Warships led by the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov were expected to take on fuel and supplies at the port of Ceuta after passing through the Straits of Gibraltar.

Speaking in Brussels, where Nato defence ministers are meeting, British defence secretary Michael Fallon said “we would be extremely concerned if any Nato member started to assist a Russian carrier group that ended up in the eastern Mediterranean bombing Syrian civilians.

“On the contrary, Nato should be sticking together and reassuring its members and that’s one of the reasons we are deploying Typhoons to the Black Sea region to provide exactly that kind of reassurance and solidarity. Nato needs to stick together.”

Russia’s embassy in Madrid later said the federation had withdrawn its refuelling request.

It comes after Royal Navy vessels last week monitored Russian warships as they moved through the English Channel.

Nato said the prospect of Russia’s only aircraft carrier heading to the region did not “inspire confidence” that Moscow is seeking a political solution to the Syrian crisis.

More than 60 Russian naval vessels have refuelled and resupplied in Spanish ports in recent years, according to the SNP.

However, UK prime minister Theresa May sidestepped calls to explicitly demand that Spain rejected Russian refuelling requests.

She told MPs: “Of course, on the high seas they are able to travel as they wish, although of course when they went through the English Channel they were accompanied by Royal Navy vessels as they went through.

“What we have seen, sadly, is that the Russians are already able to unleash attacks on innocent civilians in Syria. What matters is that we put pressure on Russia to do what everybody agrees is the only way that we are going to resolve this issue, which is to ensure that we have a political transition in Syria, and that’s where we should focus our attention.”</s>Spain is coming under criticism for reportedly preparing to allow the refuelling of Russian warships en route to bolstering the bombing campaign against the besieged Syrian city Aleppo.

Warships led by the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov are expected to take on fuel and supplies at the Spanish port of Ceuta after passing through the Straits of Gibraltar on Wednesday morning, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The report comes after Royal Navy vessels monitored Russian warships as they began to move through the English Channel last week.

The Russian vessels were shadowed by the navy as they passed through the Dover Strait — one of the busiest seaways in the world.

Sir Gerald Howarth, a former defence minister, told the Telegraph it would be “wholly inappropriate” for a Nato member to refuel the vessels.

Former Royal Navy chief Lord West told the newspaper: “There are sanctions against Russia and it’s an extraordinary thing for a Nato ally to do.”

Spain’s foreign ministry told the paper that requests from the Russian navy were considered on a “case by case basis”.

A spokesman said: “Russian navy vessels have been making calls in Spanish ports for years.”

The Telegraph said the Spanish government said it was reviewing the Russian request.

A UK Government spokesman said: “Access to Spanish ports is a matter for the Spanish authorities. HMG has previously expressed concerns to the Spanish government about its hospitality to the Russian navy when we have concerns about Russia’s military activity.

“We are clear that the UK’s relationship with Russia should not be business as usual.”

Last week’s Russian passage through the Channel came after Theresa May condemned Vladimir Putin’s aggression in Syria, accusing Moscow of being behind “sickening atrocities” in support of Bashar Assad’s regime.

Nato said the prospect of Russia’s only aircraft carrier heading to the region does not “inspire confidence” that Moscow is seeking a political solution to the Syrian crisis.

Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said in September that the Admiral Kuznetsov-led Northern Fleet would be joining a taskforce in the Mediterranean.

According to the Russian news agency Tass, he told a defence board meeting that the plan was to bolster the Mediterranean fleet’s “combat capabilities”.

A statement from the fleet to the agency on October 15th said the group also consisted of the Pyotr Velikiy battlecruiser, the Severomorsk anti-submarine ship, the Vice-Admiral Kulakov destroyer and other support vessels.</s>The small fleet of Russian warships and fighter jets reached the North Sea late last week and then moved south through the English Channel, according to the UK's Ministry of Defense. The flotilla is believed to be on its way to the Mediterranean and eventually, most Western defense analysts believe, to Syria.

In a statement, the Spanish ministry said it asked the Russian Embassy in Madrid to clarify reports that the flotilla might participate in the military operation against the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo.

"The Spanish government follows with deep concern the airstrikes against Aleppo and the humanitarian tragedy there," the statement said. "Spain has requested in different occasions a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid (into the city)."

The Russian embassy responded by withdrawing the request to refuel in the north African port city, the statement said. Spain had originally approved the stop -- from Friday through November 2 -- as it has done on previous occasions.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday acknowledged Russia's right to operate on international waters but reiterated concern "about the possibility that the Kuznetsov carrier group can be used as a platform for more attacks against Aleppo and Syria, and thereby exacerbating the humanitarian catastrophe." The Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, in a photo provided by the Norwegian Armed Forces. "It is up to each and every nation, each ally, to decide ... whether they provide (fueling) and supplies to Russian ships," Stoltenberg said. "But this time I have conveyed a very clear message that we are concerned about the potential use of this carrier group to increase attacks against Aleppo." Spanish authorities would not confirm the exact current location of the flotilla. The warships left Russia October 15 on what the Russian navy said was a mission "to ensure naval presence in the important areas of the World Ocean. "Special focus will be made on safeguarding security of maritime traffic and other types of Russian maritime economic activity and also responding to new kinds of modern threats such as piracy and international terrorism," the Russian statement said. Peter Felstead, editor of Jane's Defence Weekly, has called the Russian operation "a show of force and a show of capabilities." Analysis: Why are Russian warships in British waters? The movement of the Russian warships to Syria could also give Russia a chance to test its only aircraft carrier to make sure it's working properly, and will also give Western powers the opportunity to examine it at close range, Felstead said Friday. Launching aircraft from a carrier like the Admiral Kuznetsov, which uses a fixed, ramp-assisted takeoff, is a difficult and risky operation that requires a lot of practice. The Russian fleet also includes a nuclear-powered battle cruiser, Pyotr Velikiy, and two Udaloy Class Destroyers. The Admiral Kuznetsov itself is capable of carrying 50 war planes. The Russian fleet is believed to be sailing to the Syrian port of Tartus. Russia's defense ministry said on October 10 it was poised to transform its naval facility there into a permanent base. As airstrikes in the eastern section of Aleppo have continued, killing hundreds of civilians, Western powers have accused Assad and his supporters of war crimes. Syria's military, backed by Russia, has been fiercely criticized by Western powers for the deadly toll on the roughly 250,000 civilians who remain trapped there. Both the United States and United Kingdom have mulled potential economic sanctions against Syria and Russia due to the Aleppo crisis. NATO has been bolstering its defenses in countries along the Russian border amid growing concerns about Moscow's military direction. NATO defense ministers are currently meeting in Brussels to discuss the situation, as well as the fight against ISIS.</s>Russia's embassy in Madrid says Russia has withdrawn its request to refuel in Spain a fleet of Russian warships that could be used to ramp up air attacks in Syria.

Embassy spokesman Vasily Nioradze told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the request has been canceled, but he gave no details.

Britain earlier on Wednesday expressed concern that NATO ally Spain was considering refueling the Russian ships.

The Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and a task group of support vessels have steamed through the North Sea and English Channel in recent days heading to the Mediterranean Sea.</s>Spain is having to review its decision to allow Russian warships to refuel at one of its ports amid international outrage.

“The latest stopover requests are being reviewed at the moment based on the information we are receiving from our allies and from Russian authorities,” the Spanish foreign ministry said.

A naval fleet headed by the Admiral Kuznetzov aircraft carrier, which passed through the English Channel last week, was expected to dock this morning in the autonomous enclave of Ceuta to take on fuel and supplies under a permit issued by Spain’s Foreign Ministry.

NATO, the British government & EU officials have expressed anger even though Spain says Russia’s warships have been mooring there “for years.”

Asked about Spain’s role in supplying the fleet, Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato Secretary-General, said he was “concerned”.

“I have expressed that very clearly about potential use of this battle group to increase Russia’s ability and to be a platform for airstrikes against Syria,” he added.

“I repeat those concerns today and I believe that all Nato allies are aware that this battle group can be used to conduct airstrikes against Aleppo and Syria.”

Guy Verhofstadt, president of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament, called Spain’s decision “scandalous”.

He wrote on Twitter: “Spain signed EU statement on Russian war crimes in Aleppo last week – today [Tuesday] helps refuel fleet on way to commit more atrocities. Seriously?”

The UK said that although access to Spanish ports was a matter for local authorities, concerns had been raised.

“Her Majesty’s government has previously expressed concerns to the Spanish government about its hospitality to the Russian navy when we have concerns about Russia’s military activity,” a British Government spokesperson said.

Spain, a Nato member, regularly allows Russian war ships to stop in its enclave of Ceuta, which borders Morocco at the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea.

A spokesperson for the foreign ministry told El Pais permission was granted on a case-by-case basis depending on the ship in question and possibly security risks.

“We are looking at the latest [supply] stops requested based on information requested by Russian authorities,” he added.

Intense international media coverage has followed the fleet’s progress from the Arctic Circle to the Mediterranean, with Royal Navy ships tracking it through the Channel.</s>NATO is monitoring the eight-strong carrier battle group from northern Russia on its way to the eastern Mediterranean, where alliance officials fear it will launch fighter bombers to hit rebels in northwestern Syria early in November.

"The latest stopover requests are being reviewed at the moment based on the information we are receiving from our allies and from Russian authorities," the ministry said in a statement.

In Brussels, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said it was up to Spain to decide whether to refuel a Russian tanker traveling with the carrier battle group, but that NATO had expressed its concern to allies, including Madrid.

"We are concerned about the potential use of this carrier group to increase attacks against civilians in Aleppo," Stoltenberg said, referring to the war-ravaged Syrian city where government forces are besieging its rebel-controlled eastern half. "All allies are aware of our concerns."

British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon told reporters in Brussels that London would be "extremely concerned that any NATO member should consider assisting a Russian carrier group that might end up bombing Syrian civilians ... On the contrary, NATO should be standing together."

Britain has raised concerns with Spain over the possible refueling of Russian warships on their way to Syria, a spokeswoman for Prime Minister Theresa May said on Wednesday, adding that the situation was being monitored closely.

There was no immediate Russian comment on the matter.

Former Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt, who leads the Liberal bloc in the European Parliament, said on Twitter: "Spain signed EU statement on Russian war crimes in Aleppo last week; today helps refuel fleet on way to commit more atrocities. Seriously?"

Spain granted permission for three Russian navy ships to dock in Ceuta several weeks ago, according to El Pais newspaper. It quoted Spanish diplomatic sources as saying permission would be revoked if Spain confirmed that the three ships were part of the Russian fleet headed for Syria.

The Foreign Ministry said Spain had been allowing Russian navy vessels to dock in Spanish ports for years, treating such requests on a case-by-case basis.

It was unclear on Wednesday whether any of the Russian ships would actually call in at Ceuta. The MarineTraffic web site showed the Osipov, a Russian cargo ship that is one of the fleet's support vessels, had sailed well past Ceuta.

The naval group, which passed through the English Channel on Friday, is made up of Russia's sole aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, as well as a nuclear-powered battle cruiser, two anti-submarine warships and four support vessels, likely escorted by submarines, according to NATO officials.

The naval deployment is carrying dozens of fighter bombers and helicopters and is expected to join around 10 other Russian vessels already off the Syrian coast, diplomats said.

Washington's envoy to NATO said Russia was within its right to move vessels through international waters. But U.S. Ambassador Douglas Lute raised concern that the aircraft carrier would be used to contribute to bombing of civilian targets around Aleppo.</s>Russia did not asked Spain to let a flotilla of warships refuel in the port of Ceuta, Russian news agency Interfax reported on Wednesday, citing the defense ministry.

"There had been no requests sent from the Russian Defence Ministry to the Spanish authorities," Interfax cited the ministry's spokesman Igor Konashenkov as saying.

He said the Russian battle group - which has raised concerns in NATO that it could be used to target civilians in Syria - has all the necessary reserves of resources needed to complete its tasks.
Russia withdraws a request to refuel three of its warships, including the flagship of the Russian Navy, Admiral Kuznetsov, en route to Syria, at the Spanish port of Ceuta following NATO pressure on the Spanish government to not allow the warships to dock.