Lavrov, speaking to journalists, said he hoped European countries would not make attempts to wreck the talks.

The Syrian capital of Damascus was two to three weeks away from falling to terrorists when Russia intervened in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a news conference on Tuesday.

He added that Russia will continue to support Syria as he has information that some European countries were considering wrecking Syria peace talks because they felt left out.

Lavrov, speaking to journalists, said he hoped European countries would not make attempts to wreck the talks.

Astana

Iran opposes a US presence in peace talks on the Syria conflict that are planned for Jan. 23 in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana, Tasnim news agency quoted Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as saying on Tuesday.

Answering a question about Iran’s stance over possible US involvement, Zarif said: “We have not invited them, and we are against their presence.”

Lavrov said on Tuesday he thought it was right to invite the Trump administration to peace talks on the Syria.

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