Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has been in telephone talks with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry this Friday to discuss ways to end the conflict in Syria, a statement on the ministry?€™s website reported.
The conversation also concerned the fight against the so-called Islamic State and methods of limiting the group's access to weapons and militants from abroad.
Lavrov and Kerry discussed the practical issues of cooperation between Russia and the U.S. as co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group, the statement said.
A ceasefire in Syria came into force more than three months ago, but Russia and the U.S. still can not agree on which of the many groups within the county should be viewed as enemy targets. Russia is ready to start unilateral airstrikes, but doing so would end the dialogue with the U.S., Kommersant reported.
The Islamic State is a terrorist organization banned in Russia.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.