Lavrov Hopes Washington, Riyadh Help Resolve Syrian Civil War

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow was hoping for specific and effective aid from Washington and Riyadh to resolve Syrian civil war.

DOHA (Sputnik) — The United States and Saudi Arabia should step in to settle the Syrian civil war, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday.

Earlier in the day, Lavrov met with US Secretary of State John Kerry and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir in the Qatari capital of Doha to discuss the Syrian civil war.

"I hope that these gentlemen [Kerry and Jubeir] offer their assistance [to resolve the Syrian civil war]," Lavrov told US journalists during the open part of the meeting.

The top diplomat added that Moscow was hoping for specific and effective aid from Washington and Riyadh.

Syria has been mired in a civil war since 2011. The country's government is fighting a number of opposition forces as well as radical Islamist militant organizations, including the Islamic State. Over 220,000 are believed to have been killed and at least 11 million have been displaced.

According to US President Barack Obama, the situation in Syria can only be peaceably resolved by the formation of a new government, without the participation of President Bashar Assad.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stressed that his country is ready for a dialogue with Damascus to promote Assad's cooperation with the Syrian opposition in conducting political reforms and settling the civil war in the country.