MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia will continue contacts with the United States on a variety of sensitive issues in Syria, including military contacts to avoid dangerous incidents during combat operations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday.
"We are still hoping that the political wisdom will prevail and we will continue contacts on most sensitive issues that are necessary to maintain global peace and security in general," Peskov told reporters in a conference call.
He pointed out that Moscow regretted about the US decision to suspend cooperation with Russia on Syria but it was necessary not to dramatize the situation.
"As far as we understand, our militaries will continue maintaining contacts to avoid dangerous incidents while operating in Syria," the spokesman added.
The US State Department announced on Wednesday that the US was suspending its engagement with Russia on sustaining a ceasefire agreement in Syria.
Russia to Continue Fight Against Terrorism in Syria Supporting Gov't Forces
Russia has no intention to stop fighting terrorism in Syria or to quit supporting the governmental army despite US refusal to continue bilateral dialogue on the Syrian settlement, Dmitry Peskov said.
"The US refusal to continue dialogue with Russia on Syrian affairs in terms of supporting a ceasefire regime, of course, makes the situation there more complicated. This refusal, unfortunately, confirms that it is de facto impossible to separate terrorists from the so called moderate opposition… Though, it does not mean that the Russian side intends to drop its plans regarding the fight against terrorism and support of the Syrian armed forces in their anti-terrorist efforts," Peskov told reporters answering the question, whether the US demarche would increase the possibility of incidents between the Russian Aerospace Forces and the US-led coalition aircraft in the war-torn country.
Russia's ambassador to the United Nations Vitaliy Churkin said on Monday that he did not see any possible alternative to the Russian-US cooperation on Syria and expressed his regret over the end of talks.
Kremlin Spokesman Rules Out Speculation on Suspending More Deals With US
On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the halting of the Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement over Washington’s hostile actions.
"I would not make ambitious plans," Peskov said when asked whether Russia would halt any more deals with the US side over difficulties in bilateral relations.
"Of course, overall, the potential of unfriendly steps, unconstructive steps towards Russia has a tendency to increase and we have repeatedly said and continue saying that all of this does not contribute to normalization of our bilateral relations," he added.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition groups, as well as terrorist formations, such as Daesh, which is banned in Russia and the United States.
