Russia’s acting Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, told counterpart U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday that Moscow was ready to consider additional ways to “normalize” the situation in the Syrian city of Aleppo, the ministry reported.

“The Russian side reaffirmed its readiness to continue looking into additional possibilities, together with the American partners, on normalizing the situation in Aleppo,” the ministry said in a statement on its website.

Russia’s ministry of foreign affairs once again blamed Washington for allegedly failing to separate terrorists groups from the moderate opposition in Syria. Backing pro-regime forces and Bashar al-Assad’s rule in Syria, Russia collectively profiles armed opposition as terrorist groups and not as revolution forces Seeking a democratic and constitutional reform for the war-torn country.

The call, on Washington’s initiative, came a day after Kerry said there was no point pursuing further negotiations with Russia over Syria “in the context of the kind of bombing taking place”.

U.S. President Barack Obama spoke by telephone on Thursday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the two leaders condemned what they called barbarous Russian and Syrian government air strikes on eastern Aleppo.

A Russian newspaper reported on Friday that Russia was sending more warplanes to Syria to ramp up its air strikes and fighting intensified in Aleppo, a week into the Russian-backed government offensive to capture the city and crush the last remaining urban stronghold of the opposition.

“Lavrov emphasized that Russia remains open to a dialogue with the United States on all key issues of the Syrian settlement,” the ministry said.

Source: Reuters