US softens on Assad leaving power, Russian diplomat says

Washington has eased off insisting that Syrian President Bashar Assad must leave his post, Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, said Thursday. Speaking to Russia's Kommersant daily, Churkin said U.S. officials have softened their stance on this issue.

Churkin also criticized Assad's latest statements to Agence France-Presse (AFP) last week in which he defiantly pledged to retake the whole of the country be it after a long and costly process considering support from regional actors.

If Syria "follows Russia's leadership in resolving this crisis, then they have a chance to come out of it in a dignified way," Churkin said, adding that Assad's statements were out of tune with Russia's diplomatic efforts on the Syria crisis.

Moscow and Damascus have bolstered their cooperation in the civil war since the end of September last year when Russia started an air campaign allegedly targeting DAESH, but mostly targeting opposition groups.