US-Russian Cooperation on Political Solution in Syria Still Possible - DoS

State Department spokesperson John Kirby said that an opportunity exists for Washington and Moscow to work together on finding a political solution to the conflict in Syria.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States still believes an opportunity exists for Washington and Moscow to work together on finding a political solution to the conflict in Syria, despite Russian airstrikes against opposition targets, US State Department spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Friday.

"There is still a chance that there could be cooperation with Russia toward a political solution in Syria," Kirby stated.

Russian military operations against opposition targets in Syria, Kirby noted, have made the political process more difficult, but US Secretary of State John Kerry still believes the United States and Russia can pursue a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.

Only hours after Russia began conducting airstrikes in Syria last week, US media reports began circulating accusations of Moscow striking moderate Syrian rebels trained under the 2014 US train-and-equip program and the earlier CIA program.

On Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told reporters that all actions taken by Russia in Syria are aimed at promoting a political settlement. Zakharova said conducting military operations was the only way to restore Syria’s territorial unity and sovereignty.