US, Russia Have Great Differences Over Peace Process in Syria

The United States and Russia continue to support different sides in war torn Syria and have differences over the peace process in this country, US President Barack Obama said Sunday.

HANGZHOU (Sputnik) — On Saturday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US State Secretary John Kerry on the sidelines of the G20 summit in China was possible if the United States officially made a distinction between terrorists and opposition groups in Syria.

"We have great differences in terms of both the parties we support but also the process that is required to bring about peace in Syria. But if we do not get succumbing from the Russians on reducing the violence and easing the humanitarian crisis then it is difficult to see how we get to the next phase [of the Syrian settlement]," Obama said at a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Theresa May on the sidelines of the G20 summit in China.

At the same time, Obama noted that "the conversations with Russians are key" in reaching the solution of the Syrian crisis.