Obama Admin Not Seeking Regime Change in Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is still fuming despite Ankara’s attempts to establish a dialogue, continues to spearhead a relentless campaign against Turkey.

“You know that we’re seeking outcomes to the most acute crises together with you”, Mr Putin told Mr Kerry at the start of the talks, flanked by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Opposition activists said warplanes also struck a popular market in the northern village of Maskaneh that is under the control of the Islamic State group, killing at least 18 people and wounding many others.

Lavrov said the two countries agreed to intensify “our efforts in counterterrorism”. The U.S. insists that Assad is to blame for the conflict and must step down, although recently it has been softening its position, suggesting Assad could remain through a transition period. But the emphasis of both the nations is and should be on how to facilitate peace process in the troubled country so that the Syrians could make a valid decision for their future after getting out of the state of disturbance.

Opening talks in Moscow with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov before seeing President Vladimir Putin, Mr Kerry said the world benefits when great powers agree in their approaches to crises.

The ISSG comprises the United States, Russia, Britain, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, together with the U.N., European Union and Arab League.

What happened? Putin likely spent a day’s worth of talks with Kerry letting the US know in no uncertain terms that Moscow, after a couple of months now of flexing its muscles against the Islamic State and Syrian rebels, is running the show. But the United States has repeatedly criticized Russian efforts, saying most of its strikes have not targeted the so-called Islamic State extremists.

And, he said, “We want Turkish forces to join in the air and on the ground as appropriate”. Kerry’s efforts to shift the discussion away from Assad’s personal future, seemed to bring the USA closer to Moscow’s position that real peace talks might be able to begin prior to Assad’s removal. But it remains unclear if Assad will cooperate with the plan. “Russia has consistently pointed to the need to observe the principles of equality, mutual respect, and non-interference”. The two countries also have split on Ukraine since Russias annexation of the Crimea region previous year and its ongoing, though diminished, support for separatist rebels in the east of the country.

Kerry did take a brief break to walk in central Moscow.

Kerry also announced that Russian Federation and the United States had discussed exchanging data on the locations of anti-terrorist operations, and that Washington is not pursuing a policy of isolating Russian Federation.

The visit to Moscow was Kerry’s second meeting with Putin this year.