MOSCOW, February 22. /TASS/. Russia will carry out the necessary work with Damascus, seeking to resolve the Syria crisis, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.
"Russia, within the framework of the operation Russia's Aerospace Force goes on with in Syria's airspace, remains in close touch with the country's legitimate leadership," Peskov said underscoring that "Russia will carry out the needed work with Damascus," as earlier Russian President Vladimir Putin had said.
"Russia expects that the United States alongside allies and the U.S.-backed groups will follow suit," he said.
Peskov said that Russia would stay in touch with motivated countries, primarily with the regional nations, in the context of the Syria settlement.
"Russia will continue intensive contacts with all motivated countries, first of all with the regional nations, exchanging opinions, "synchronizing’ and clarifying the position of each side to the other," he said.
Answering a question whether Putin had focused on these issues in his talks with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Peskov said: "The decisions were worded, drafted and agreed at the above mentioned bilateral talks."
According to the UN statistics data, the fighting between Syrian governmental troops and militants has killed over 220,000 people and displaced millions since its start in 2011. Gangs of militants making part of various armed formations, the most active of them being the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organizations (outlawed in Russia), fight against the governmental troops.