Russia says US statements on Syria talks have no basis
Russia says there is no basis for “dramatic statements” after its Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry failed to strike a deal on ending the conflict in Syria.
The US State Department said Sunday a deal was close and could be announced by Kerry and his Russian counterpart, but hours later acknowledged they had failed to reach an agreement and that differences remained.
“There are no reasons for such dramatic statements as those being made by some State Department sources, that nothing has been achieved,” Interfax news agency quoted a source at the Russian Foreign Ministry as saying Monday.
“The process will continue,” the source added.
Kerry and Lavrov had met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.The two were expected to meet again on Monday.
Earlier on Sunday, President Barack Obama said the US and Russia had deep differences with regard to the parties they support in Syria as well as the process to bring peace there.
Speaking at a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May on the sidelines of the G20 summit, Obama said the Russian-US talks were key for efforts to reduce violence in the Arab country.
Washington and Moscow have sought for weeks to secure a ceasefire between Syrian President Bashar Assad's government and terrorist groups operating in the country.
Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. According to UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, more than 400,000 people have been killed in the conflict.
Takfiri terrorists have suffered major setbacks over the past few months and the Syrian army has managed to liberate many key areas.
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