Russian Foreign Ministry: Kerry’s possible visit to Moscow being considered

Speaking during an event on the sidelines of the Paris climate talks, Kerry said despite its military and political interests in Syria, Moscow “has been constructive” in trying to find a political settlement to end the Syrian conflict.

There was no comment from the British defence ministry on the Russian statement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is not ruling out nuclear weapons being used in the fight against ISIS in the Middle East, but still holds reservations on the devastating technology.

Davutoglu said just 10% of Russia’s strikes in Syria targeted Isis whereas 90% targeted “moderate forces” opposed both to Assad and the jihadists.

Davutoglu said he was “ready to work” with Russian Federation to prevent a repeat of the incident, warning such confrontations risked happening again without proper coordination. US State Department spokesman John Kirby said Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Anne Patterson would represent the US at the meeting to discuss moving forward on a political transition in Syria and “trying to get at the framework and the architecture for a ceasefire”. Turkey says it is training the fighters to take on Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, but Baghdad fears it is effectively supporting a partitioning of the country, and preparing for a clash with Iranian-backed Shia militias loyal to the government. Even if they don’t wish to, Davutoğlu and Erdoğan may be forced to do so by public opinion: nationalist voters are an important element of the ruling party’s base, and they can’t let these voters down.

Iran’s Fars New Agency reported on Sunday that more than 60 Russian Marines had arrived in Syria’s Homs Province to advise and assist Syrian Army units fighting near Palmyra. “We support it from the air, as well as the Syrian army, we assist them with weapons, ammunition and provide material support”.

A US-led worldwide coalition has been carrying out a campaign against Daesh, a group outlawed in a number of countries including Russian Federation, in Syria since 2014. It means they (Russia) are strengthening Daesh. Meanwhile, representatives from Syria’s fragmented opposition on Wednesday began a two-day closed-door meeting in Saudi Arabia to seek a united front for potential talks with Assad. As Obama put it on Sunday, “The strategy that we are using now – airstrikes, Special Forces and working with local forces who are fighting to regain control of their own country – that is how we’ll achieve a more sustainable victory”.

Also Thursday, Zakharova said there was still no agreement among global powers on the lists of the Syrian opposition and terrorist groups, one of the key conditions of launching a full-scale peace process in Arab republic.