ST. PETERSBURG (Sputnik) — Kerry stated earlier in the week that Russia must understand that Washington has "very limited" patience left in regard to Syria ceasefire violations.
The foreign minister said he was surprised by Kerry's statements and urged the United States to show more patience in regard to Syria.
"First of all, we have not promised anyone to do anything. We have given no promises to anyone, but agreed that everyone working on the Syrian settlement will be guided by agreements reached by the International Syria Support Group, which have been written down in UN Security Council Resolutions," Lavrov said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged the US earlier this month to convince those rebel groups which they support in Syria to leave areas where al-Nusra Front militants are present.
It is Washington's fault, not Moscow's that those taking part in the Syrian settlement have failed to sit down at the negotiating table so far, Lavrov said.
"Ensuring that these people sit down at the [negotiating] table, in full compliance with a clear [UN] Security Council mandate, has been impossible, and not because of us, but because of our American partners who for some reason are unwilling to pressure their allies in the region, and these allies have categorical stances."
"There is no progress in the political process. The reasons we are hearing — I just met with the UN secretary general and his special Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura, we had a frank talk — they cannot launch a political dialogue with the participation of all Syrian parties," the minister stated.
"The Turks are not letting in the Kurds, and the so-called High Negotiations Committee refuses to recognize the members of other opposition groups as equals and demands to be named the main negotiator," he added
