On Friday, Kerry had a productive meeting with Lavrov, where they discussed the current situation in Syria and scheduled another round of talks for next week, according to White House spokesperson Eric Schultz.
“Lavrov especially emphasized the need for consistent implementation of the relevant UN resolutions relating to countering the Islamic State, Jebhat Nusra and other terrorist groups, as well as … to restoring peace and stability in Syria based on respect for and guarantees of legitimate rights of all ethnic and religious groups in the country," the statement reads.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with opposition factions and Islamist terrorist groups such as the ISIL and Nusra Front (Jebhat Nusra) fighting the Syrian Army.
Both Russia and the United States have been conducting airstrikes on terrorist positions in Syria.
US-led coalition launched its aerial campaign in 2014, however was never granted permission to conduct the airstrikes by Damascus or the UN Security Council.
EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini highly appreciated Russia’s initiative to hold Middle East Quartet ministerial-level talks in Vienna, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
“Mogherini praised Russia's initiative to organize a ministerial meeting of the Middle East Quartet of international mediators in Vienna,” the statement said.
On Friday, the Middle East Quartet foreign ministers met in Vienna after a suggestion to hold such talks was made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
