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Syria crisis: US plans Russia military talks, Kerry says Syria crisis: US and Russian defence chiefs discuss conflict
(35 minutes later)
The US is seeking military talks with Russia on Syria, and hopes they could take place "very shortly", Secretary of State John Kerry has said. Top US and Russian defence officials have held their first talks in more than a year to discuss the Syrian conflict, the Pentagon says.
The US and Russia differ sharply on Syria, and Washington has been concerned about Russia's increased military presence there. Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter spoke with Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on areas where "perspectives overlap and areas of divergence", a statement said.
"We're looking for ways in which to find a common ground," said Mr Kerry. Russia said the talks proved both sides had common ground, state media said.
Moscow has meanwhile said that any request from Syria to send troops would be "discussed and considered". The US and Russia have disagreed sharply on Syria's bloody civil war.
"But it is difficult to talk about this hypothetically," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov added. While Moscow has backed the Syrian government, the US sees the removal of President Bashar al-Assad as essential to resolving the conflict.
Arriving in London for talks with the UAE, Mr Kerry told reporters: "The president believes that military-to-military conversation is an important next step and hopefully will take place very shortly." The US has also been alarmed about reports of a Russian military build-up in Syria, at a time when the Assad government has been losing ground to rebels.
News of the phone call between Mr Carter and Mr Shoigu emerged shortly after Secretary of State John Kerry said the US hoped military-to-military conversations would take place "very shortly".
Analysis: Jonathan Marcus, BBC defence correspondentAnalysis: Jonathan Marcus, BBC defence correspondent
The growing Russian military presence in Syria, not least the deployment of surface-to-air missiles to defend the airfield at Latakia, means Washington and Moscow have a lot to talk about. The growing Russian military presence in Syria, not least the deployment of surface-to-air missiles to defend the airfield at Latakia, means that Washington and Moscow have a lot to talk about.
The US and a number of its allies are flying strike missions into Syrian air space and they don't want to have any misunderstandings with Russia's forces there. The phone call between the US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu is only the first step.
The Americans will also hope to obtain a clearer idea as to the purpose of the Russian presence in Latakia. The US and a number of its allies are flying strike missions into Syrian air space and they do not want to have any misunderstandings with Russia's forces there.
The Americans also want to get a clearer idea as to the purpose of the Russian presence in Syria.
Is this simply to secure a bridge-head to re-supply Mr Assad? Or does it herald a Russian intervention in the fighting?Is this simply to secure a bridge-head to re-supply Mr Assad? Or does it herald a Russian intervention in the fighting?
Russia's foreign ministry offered such talks earlier in this week. Military talks between Moscow and Washington could also facilitate a better understanding on the diplomatic front with Syria likely to be a prominent issue in the crucial contacts on the margins of the UN General Assembly later this month.
A spokeswoman said on Friday: "We have never refused dialogue with the United States. (We) are open to it now on all matters of mutual interest, including Syria," according to Reuters. The defence chiefs discussed "deconfliction" - essentially avoiding accidental encounters - the Pentagon statement said, describing the talks as "constructive".
The two sides have long disagreed over Syria. Russia has been an ally of the Syrian government throughout the four-year civil war, while the US sees President Assad's removal as essential to resolving the crisis. Meanwhile, Moscow has said that any request from Syria to send troops would be "discussed and considered".
Moscow has increased its presence in the country just as the regime is losing ground to rebel groups. Russia says it is helping Syria fight Islamic State militants. "But it is difficult to talk about this hypothetically," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov added.
US officials accuse Russia of attempting to establish an air base at Latakia, raising the possibility of air combat missions. A Russian human rights body said it has been contacted by Russian soldiers who fear being sent to fight in Syria.
In a separate development, a Russian human rights body said it has been contacted by Russian soldiers who fear being sent to fight in Syria.
Any secret deployment of troops to Syria would be illegal, said Sergei Krivenko of the Russian Human Rights Council.Any secret deployment of troops to Syria would be illegal, said Sergei Krivenko of the Russian Human Rights Council.