US to suspend cooperation to be 'gifts' for terrorists: Russian FM

Boys make their way through the rubble of damaged buildings in the rebel held area of al-Kalaseh neighbourhood of Aleppo, Syria, September 29, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

MOSCOW -- The possible decision of the United States to suspend cooperation with Russia on the Syria settlement would play right into the hands of terrorist groups, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday.

Earlier on Thursday, the US State Department spokesman John Kirby said that Washington is "serious about the potential of suspending bilateral engagement with Russia" on promoting a diplomatic solution to the Syria crisis.

"The best of them (gifts) will be Washington's rejection of cooperation with Russia on the Syrian settlement," Zakharova wrote on her Facebook page, adding that if the decision is taken, it will be a "great holiday" for terrorists.

The US Secretary of State John Kerry threatened on Wednesday to cut all cooperation with Russia if the Syrian government troops backed by Moscow kept bombing Aleppo, which Moscow denounced as "emotional breakdown" resulting from Washington's inability to keep its promise in their bilateral truce deal.

Despite the threatening statements, Russia has said it sees no alternative to a diplomatic settlement of the Syrian crisis with the United States.