"Right now they [Russia] are angling for the political solution they want," Kerry stated in an interview with CNN. "And it's not necessarily a workable equation. We understand that."
Kerry argued that Russia has an interest in not getting "bogged down" in Syria forever because it would not want to become "a target" of Islamic extremists or the Sunni world.
At the same time, Kerry underscored Russia’s contribution to the cessation of hostilities in Syria.
"We would not have gotten the initial ceasefire without Russia. Tens of thousands of lives were saved," Kerry noted.
A US-Russia brokered ceasefire took effect on February 26, with dozens of militant groups having joined it since then. However, terrorist organizations such as the Islamic State and the Nusra Front – both outlawed in Russia — are excluded from the ceasefire.
The latest round of Syria peace talks took place in April, with the next round expected this month.
Russia has been supporting Syrian President Bashar Assad as the legitimate Syrian authority, and is contributing to finding a political solution to the crisis in the country.
