ASTANA (Sputnik) — He added that there was a "significant" amount of those willing to derail the meeting.
"We have obviously noted some awkward attempts at, let’s say, blackmailing," Lavrentyev told reporters.
The Syria talks were held in Astana on January 23-24. They were initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who proposed establishing in Astana a site of the Syrian peace process in addition to Geneva. The proposal was supported by the presidents of Turkey and Kazakhstan.