US, Russia Discuss Joint Efforts on Political Transition in Syria

The State Department said that the United States is seeking cooperation with Russia and the international community to ensure the political resolution of the Syrian crisis and the success in the fight against extremist groups in Syria.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States is seeking cooperation with Russia and the international community to ensure the political resolution of the Syrian crisis and the success in the fight against extremist groups in Syria, the State Department said on Monday.

US Special Envoy for Syria Daniel Rubinstein met in Moscow on Monday with a range of senior Russian officials, including Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, to discuss conditions for a "political transition in Syria that is consistent with the Geneva Communique."

"The United States looks forward to working with Russia and the international community in the coming months on achieving a genuine, sustainable political transition as necessary to address the crisis and help defeat ‎the extremist threat," the State Department said in a statement.

Syria has been mired in civil war, that has left over 220,000 people dead, since 2011. The country's government is struggling against several extremist groups, including the Islamic State and the Nusra Front.

Moscow hosted two rounds of intra-Syrian talks between the government and moderate opposition in January and April. During the second round of talks the sides defined a negotiating framework for the talks on the Syrian crisis settlement.

Consultations on Syria are currently taking place behind closed doors at the UN headquarters and are expected to last from five to six weeks.