A Shift In The U.S. Position On Regime Change In Syria?

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrive for a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia December 15, 2015. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin

ABC News: US Not Seeking 'Regime Change' in Syria, John Kerry Says After Meeting With Russian President

Following lengthy talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow today, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has said the United States is not seeking regime change in Syria and that the U.S. and Russia see the conflict "fundamentally very similarly."

“The United States and its partners are not seeking so-called regime change as it is known in Syria,” Kerry said in a news conference inside the Kremlin, before immediately adding that the U.S. continues to believe that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has no possibility of remaining the country’s leader in the future. However, Kerry said the talks didn’t focus on “what can or can’t be done immediately about Assad” but rather on establishing a political process where Syrians will be able to choose their own leader.

Update: No 'regime change' in Syria: After talks in Moscow, Kerry accepts Russian stance on Assad (AP)

WNU Editor: The Russians are saying that there are differences .... Russia says serious differences remain with U.S. over Syria crisis (Reuters) .... but apparently those differences are not enough to stop future talks on Syria .... Russia and US say Syria peace talks will go forward after Moscow meeting (DW). What's my take .... this is a major shift in U.S. policy towards Syria, and an acceptance of Russia's position on what needs to be done to resolve the war. The Syrian opposition are still sticking with their position that Assad must go .... Syrian opposition: No ceasefire unless Assad goes (Al Jazeera).