U.S., Russia Hold Syria Talks

Kerry will travel to London later this week for talks to include the situation in Syria with British Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond and the foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates.

However, with US aircraft also operating in the country as America roots out ISIS, it is important that the two powers coordinate their military presence to avoid accidental encounters.

U.S. officials have expressed fears Russian Federation may strike Western-backed rebel groups battling Assad and ultimately risk a confrontation with forces fighting the Islamic State (IS) group.

The fight against Islamic State should take precedence for the global community over changing the Assad regime and Russian Federation backs the Syrian government in fighting terrorism, Putin said on Tuesday.

The last time a US defense chief spoke with Shoigu was in August 2014, the Pentagon said, adding high-level communications were halted following Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its intervention in Ukraine.

Carter, meanwhile, emphasized “the importance of pursuing such consultations in parallel with diplomatic talks that would ensure a political transition in Syria“, the Pentagon said.

Both sides said they agreed to continue dialogues.

Prior to that development, the US had observed eight Russian military helicopters at the airbase in Syria that Russia is beefing up, and seen Russia move tanks, mobile artillery and armored vehicles into the Middle Eastern nation.

Earlier Thursday, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russian aircraft flying into Syria have been delivering weapons along with humanitarian supplies.

Russia, which is building up a military presence in Syria, was quick to say that Moscow was also ready for talks with the United States. “We do not have a veto on any demand as long as it is within the framework of Syria’s unity and the unity of the Syrian people and territory”, he said, denying Damascus had any “state policy concerning the Kurds”.

Defense officials said at least four tactical fighter jets had arrived at the rapidly expanding airfield on the Syrian coast south of Latakia.

Mr Kerry said the U.S. was looking at ways the United States could do more to help alleviate the refugee crisis in Europe that has been partly caused by the exodus of Syrians fleeing the dual terrors of Assad and Isil.

Amid fears Russian Federation is planning to expand its role in the country’s raging civil war, President Barack Obama met with King Salman of Saudi Arabia last Friday to repeat their demand that any lasting settlement in Syria would require an end to the Assad regime.