Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he hopes a meeting with Arab counterparts this week can bring the world closer to an agreement on how to end the bloodshed in Syria, but gave no sign Moscow would stop protecting President Bashar Assad.
Lavrov said he would join Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo on Saturday.
"I think our meeting could produce very interesting groundwork that we would promote in a broader international format," Lavrov said.
He said Russia and the Arab League share fundamental goals for Syria, but criticized Western and Arab calls for Moscow to pressure Assad's government.
"We are convinced of the need not to await some magical actions for one another but to sit down together and try to agree on how we can all take a common line ... to influence all sides in Syria to stop shooting at each other, sit down for negotiations and start an inclusive national dialogue," he said.
Lavrov said there was no need to put brand new initiatives on the table at the meeting in Cairo, suggesting the ministers could work with an initiative the Arab League adopted in November and a Security Council resolution Russia proposed to counter Western and Arab drafts.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.