LUXEMBOURG (Sputnik) — According to the EU foreign policy chief, Russia could play a "very significant and important role" in the Syrian settlement process by influencing Damascus.
"We, as the European Union, can engage directly with Russia to see if a political transition can start, if a political process can start, guaranteeing that everybody sits around the table for defining the political process, that then will lead to a transition," Mogherini told reporters following a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.
"But first of all we need to start the process. And for doing that, the role of the regional actors, but also the role of obviously the United States and of Russia is going to be crucial," she continued.
Mogherini noted, however, that there is currently concern in Europe that Russia may not be targeting the Islamic State or other UN-recognized terrorist groups in Syria with its airstrikes.
