New US steps in foreign policy on Syria issue

(Baonghean.vn) - On October 14, US President Barack Obama asked his national security advisory team to change diplomatic efforts to minimize bloodshed in Syria and soon end the civil war in this country.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said that US diplomatic efforts on the Syria issue have reached their maximum level. Photo: Reuters.

President Obama convened the National Security Council to discuss new steps, as the United States has cut off dialogue with Russia after the collapse of the ceasefire in Syria. The White House said that while bilateral dialogue with Russia has been suspended, discussions with key countries are essential "to urge all sides to support a sustainable and lasting ceasefire."

On the same day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he had no "special expectations" for new international talks on the Syrian crisis. He stressed that so far Moscow has not seen any steps taken by its partners towards the full implementation of the previously signed ceasefire agreement.

US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Switzerland. Photo: Reuters.

A new round of international talks on the Syrian crisis is scheduled to take place in the Swiss city of Lausanne on October 15, as fighting continues to rage in the Middle Eastern city of Aleppo. This is the first face-to-face meeting between the US and Russian foreign ministers since Washington suspended bilateral diplomatic relations with Moscow earlier this month. The foreign ministers of Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are also expected to attend the discussions.

The resumption of talks is a sign that the West is facing a lack of options in the conflict in Syria, now in its sixth year.

Meanwhile, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said that current tensions between Russia and the United States could be the worst since the 1973 Middle East war. However, he pointed out that the relationship between the Soviet Union and the United States during the Cold War in 1973 was different from the current Russia-US relationship.

Lan Ha

(According to AFP)