Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Moscow supports the call for a ceasefire in Syria, but only if it does not cover the Islamic State, the Al-Nusra Front and other militant groups shelling residential areas in Damascus. Lavrov made the comments during a visit to Belgrade on Thursday.

SERGEY LAVROV RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER We are concerned about the way humanitarian issues are being discussed. To put it simply, it is hard to oppose a call to a ceasefire with the goal of civilians taking a breather, to supply humanitarian aid and medication, and to offer assistance to people in a difficult situation. But we have made a very detailed proposal which says the proposed ceasefire would not, in ANY case, cover ISIL, Al Nusra Front or any groups cooperating with them, and which conduct systematic shelling of the residential quarters of Damascus. Our Western partners, unfortunately, do not support such a precisely-defined exclusion of terrorists from the ceasefire. This also raises questions."