MOSCOW (Sputnik) — It is the new US administration that will decide whether the country will participate in the upcoming Syrian talks in Astana, Zakharova said.
"As for who will make a decision [on the participation in the meeting], of course, we are talking about the new administration. The main thing that I have read in the news agencies was the reaction of the representatives of Donald Trump on the possible participation, and they said that this issue would be considered," Zakharova told reporters.
Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow had invited Washington to the Astana talks.
"The issue is that the US side has not yet informed on its participation, I have no such information that an official confirmation was sent," Zakharova told a briefing.
Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony will take place on Friday.
"It is not expected [that the meeting will be over] in one day, several days are expected," Zakharova told a briefing.
The Syrian government and opposition factions are expected to meet in Astana on January 23 for talks brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran, which will be followed by a UN-mediated meeting in Geneva on February 8.
Since 2011, Syria has been engulfed in a civil war, with government forces fighting against numerous opposition and terrorist groups, including al-Nusra Front and Daesh, which is banned in a range of countries, including Russia.
