Lavrov: U.S. goal is to split Syria

The United States is attempting to split Syria and create a quasi-state on the Euphrates River's east bank, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, noting that the U.S. is opposing the return of Syria's northeast to the Syrian government.

The top Russian diplomat also called the U.S. plans to transfer control in Syria's buffer zone illegitimate, adding that Washington prohibits its allies from investing in the redevelopment of other liberated parts of Syria that are controlled by the Syrian government.

"They are actively investing and are forcing their allies to pay for redevelopment of that part of Syria. However, they are prohibiting their allies to invest in the restructuring of the infrastructure of the other parts of Syria which are controlled by the legitimate government," Sputnik cited Lavrov as saying.

He added that the U.S. forces' withdrawal would have a positive influence on reaching a settlement to the Syria crisis.