Russia is interested in dialogue with the new Syrian authorities on regional issues, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov affirmed on Thursday.

Lavrov told a press conference for Russian and foreign media that Russia is maintaining contact with the new Syrian authorities through its diplomatic mission and is currently addressing matters concerning the safety of Russian citizens and the secure operation of its embassy.

"We are interested and ready for dialogue on other issues of our bilateral relations and on issues of the regional agenda," he said.

The minister stated that Russia anticipates the resumption of economic cooperation with the new Syrian authorities.

The top diplomat also emphasized that all political and ethno-religious groups should be involved in Syria's elections, adding that Russia is prepared to support the political process.

"Syria must not be allowed to fall apart. Some would like that," Lavrov stressed.

Russia prepared to engage in consultations with Trump's administration

In a separate context, Lavrov stated that Russia is prepared to engage in consultations with the administration of US President-elect Donald Trump regarding Ukraine, expressing hope that the White House will examine the root causes of the conflict.

"I very much hope that Trump's administration, including [Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia Keith] Kellogg, will get to the root causes of the conflict. We are always ready for consultations," Lavrov said, adding that his country is open to dialogue with Western states.

He indicated that Moscow is ready to have talks with all Western representatives who are willing to have "equal dialogue, to seek a balance of interests, mutually beneficial agreements." 

The minister noted that there are such representatives, namely from Slovakia and Hungary.

Lavrov added that other EU member states are also trying to start some trust talks with Moscow, but very few have the courage to do it more openly.

'Truce in Ukraine path to nowhere'

Moreover, he explained that reaching a truce in the Ukrainian conflict is a path to nowhere, pointing out that Russia will not be satisfied with idle talks about a settlement.

"We cannot be satisfied with an idle talks. So far, all we hear is talk about the need to come up with some kind of truce... A truce is a path to nowhere, we need final legal agreements that will fix all the conditions for ensuring the security of Russia and the legitimate security interests of our neighbors, but in a context that will consolidate in an international legal way the impossibility of violating these agreements," the top Russian diplomat said.

Elsewhere, he mentioned that no one hides the fact that the truce is necessary to gain time to pump Kiev with weapons.