MUSCAT, Feb. 03 (MNA) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov asserted on Wednesday that Russia will not stop its air strikes in Syria until the terrorist organizations of Jabhat al-Nusra and ISIL are defeated.

"Russian airstrikes will not cease until we truly win over terrorist groups ISIL, Jabhat al-Nusra and such. I see no reason to stop these airstrikes," Lavrov told reporters after talks he held with his Omani counterpart Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah in Oman's capital Muscat.

Lavrov also said it would be difficult to impose a ceasefire unless Syria's border with Turkey was secured to prevent smuggling and the movement of terrorists.

"Regarding a ceasefire, we have pragmatic ideas and we talked with the Americans who head the Syria support group and we look forward to discussing these ideas at the meeting on February 11," Lavrov added, referring to the International Syria Support Group that is due to meet in Munich on Feb. 11.

The Russian aerial operation against terrorist positions in Syria started on September 30, 2015.

The Russian Foreign Minister called on the "Syrian opposition groups" taking part in the Syrian-Syrian talks in Geneva to stop counting on their external financers, highlighting the need to pressure these groups into starting dialogue without preconditions.

 

SANA/MNA