ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that 40 countries around the world are financing the Islamic State group (ISIS), including some that are part of the G20.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the G20 summit in the Turkish tourist city of Antalya, Putin said he had provided proof of his claims to leaders at the meeting.
"I provided examples based on our data on the financing of different Islamic State units by private individuals. This money, as we have established, comes from 40 countries and, there are some of the G20 members among them," he said.
Putin warned world leaders that the illegal oil trade with ISIS should be halted.
"I have shown our colleagues photos taken from space and from aircraft which clearly demonstrate the scale of the illegal trade in oil and petroleum products," Putin added.
“The motorcade of refueling vehicles stretched for dozens of kilometers, so that
from a height of 4,000 to 5,000 meters they stretch beyond the horizon," he disclosed.
Putin ruled out competition among countries over which was seen to be doing more or less against ISIS. "A united international effort is needed against the terrorist group," he urged.
Putin explained that Russia is helping the Syrian opposition in its fight against ISIS.
"Some armed opposition groups consider it possible to begin active operations against IS with Russia's support. And we are ready to provide such support from the air. If it happens it could become a good basis for the subsequent work on a political settlement," he said.
He urged that other countries, including the United States and Mideast nations, should get behind the effort.
We really need support from the US, European nations, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran," the Russian president added.
The two-day summit in Antalya brought leaders of the world's most powerful countries to meet on the recent world issues, especially to agree on a plan to defeat ISIS in retaliation for last week’s deadly Paris attacks.
