AMN /

Russia is reported to have submitted a new plan concerning the Syrian crisis to the U.S., Russian news agency TASS quoted Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as saying in an interview with the Moskovsky Komsomolets daily on Tuesday.

The new Russian proposal apparently does not include the removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

“Without disclosing details, I will note that unlike those colleagues — American as well — who constantly simply urge an immediate declaration of cease-fire, to which, first of all, U.S. allies in the region object, insisting that this can be discussed only when it becomes clear that Bashar Assad steps down. We have suggested an absolutely concrete scheme in contacts with Washington,” TASS quoted Lavrov as saying.

He reportedly said he hoped that “the very simple proposals” will not take too long “for Washington to consider”.

Last week, the UN-led peace talks in Geneva between the Syrian regime and the opposition were suspended, after Russia and the Assad regime stepped up their military strikes near Aleppo.