Russian lawmakers say Assad ready to hold elections

It comes as Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov indicated that the Kremlin wanted Syria to prepare for elections.

"The Russian air campaign in Syria increases the Assad regime's asymmetric capabilities against the Syrian opposition", the war institute says.

In this regard, Lavrov stressed the need for active role to be played by Western actors in ensuring that all Syrians get to the negotiating table, but emphasized, that only the Syrians should design the algorithm of coexistence in their country, with an inclusive view of the interests of each group.

"How could we trust the Russians' help?"

In a telephone conversation held at the request of the USA side, the ministry said on its website that the two men had also discussed tapping the potential of other countries in the region to push the political process forward.

Moscow said Lavrov discussed Syria with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry twice at the weekend, and spoke to his Iranian and Egyptian counterparts on Saturday.

Syrian and Russian warplanes conducted several airstrikes on the suburbs of Idlib province in northern Syria, amid fierce clashes between pro-Assad forces and rebel groups on the ground, local activists reported.

Russian Federation would like regional actors Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Iran included in future talks, but the Saudis have balked at sitting down with their regional rival, Tehran.

The meeting focused on the deeply-rooted historical relations between the Syrian and Russian peoples and the importance of consolidating these relations, particularly in the field of counterterrorism and in providing humanitarian aid, in addition to other spheres, on top of which, the economic domain.

He insists a political solution to end the war is possible but says it will depend on eliminating what he calls "terrorist" groups.

Opposition groups and Washington say the Russian air campaign aims to bolster Assad, who has faced major setbacks from advancing insurgents- including western-backed rebels as well as militant groups. "There is no sense in talking about elections now before a real transition of power".

"What we care about is Assad leaving, not turning this from a war against the regime to a war against terrorism", Saoud, a defected army officer who leads the 13th Division group, told The Associated Press.

The United States and Russian Federation earlier this week signed an agreement to minimise the risk of incidents in Syrian airspace. "We do not understand anything from Russian Federation", he said.

"We are ready to include the patriotic opposition, among them the Free Syrian Army, to support them from the air", he said in an interview aired Saturday on state television channel Rossiya-1.

They also promised to continue, and intensify, support to what they call the "moderate" Syrian opposition while the political track is being pursued. After Russian Federation launched cruise missiles at ISIL-targets in Syria from ships located in the Caspian Sea, it raised a few eyebrows in the West, as the U.S. military will now have to figure out how to deal with the unprecedented way of firing missiles from a long range.