Zudin, a member of the expert council at the Moscow-based Institute of Socio-Economic and Political Research, was convinced that Moscow should engage in dialogue with the United States despite these developments.
"This is good will on our part, which is always a good thing especially taking into account constant information attacks on Russia," he said. "I also think that for humanitarian and political reasons Russia and Syria are trying to minimize the damage caused by fighting in Aleppo. If there is a possibility to reach an agreement with the United States, the patron of terrorist groups, then we are ready to try."
Zudin further said that Russia should not be viewed as a junior partner when it comes to negotiations on Syria. Moscow wants Washington to cooperate when it comes to tackling terrorist groups in Syria. This is why Russian diplomats "could let their American partners take the lead," he explained. However, Russia is the leading stakeholder when it comes to actual counterterrorism efforts in the war-torn Arab country, he added.
Washington is currently working on a new document. The draft, according to Russia's top diplomat, appears to be meant to give the militants some time to recover and replenish their supplies.
Lavrov described this situation as "nothing short of a detective story."
