Russia's Foreign Ministry has modified its earlier confirmation to join a new round of international talks on ending the war in Syria that are expected in New York later this month, AFP reports.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last week announced fresh negotiations on Syria and diplomats said that they were likely to be held on December 18.
But Russia -- a key ally of President Bashar al-Assad -- said that a failure by participants to make progress on lists of rebel groups considered "terrorists" and who should represent the opposition in talks meant that is was "premature" to announce talks for that date.