All news

Putin attaches great significance to contacts with US on Syria — Kremlin spokesman

Earlier on Tuesday, Putin called to be more serious about the work with partners on the Syrian settlement and suggested a Russian delegation be led by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev

MOSCOW, October 13. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin attaches great significance to contacts with the United States on Syria, that is why he suggested a Russian delegation on that matter be led by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

"[Medvedev’s candidature] is the choice of the head of state. The foreign minister is already in touch with his US counterpart. In this case, a higher level contact was offered. It shows the significance Moscow attaches to such information exchange," he said, adding that the United States partners had provide no response so far.

Earlier on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called to be more serious about the work with partners on the Syrian settlement and suggested a Russian delegation be led by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. "I said we are ready to send a big delegation to Washington to discuss, first of all, issues of the Syrian settlement," Putin said on Tuesday. "I think it can be a serious and representative delegation from Russia led by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev."

Putin said the delegation might include the top ranking military, such as a deputy chief of the General Staff, and security officers. "This work is to be taken to a serious, substantive level, if we want to work really efficiently," Putin said, adding it was likewise important to work with the countries of the region too, including with Turkey, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Iraq.

"Yes, there are very many mutual suspicions and mutual accusations, but if we don’t work towards a solution, it could never be found," he said. "We hope we will be able to move along the path of settling political problems."

The Kremlin recalled on Tuesday that the Russian Armed Forces’ operation in Syria aims to support Syria’s army in its fight against terrorism.

"The Russian Armed Forces render support to the Syrian army in the fight against terrorist and extremist groups," Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when asked by journalists to comment on statements from Turkey accusing Moscow of backing Kurds.