Putin says new elections key for ending Syrian crisis

Speaking to Russia's top economic forum, Putin said that creating a new government that will have the trust of most of Syria's population is key to ending the five-year conflict. He said that this goal can be achieved only through drafting a new constitution and holding new elections.

Putin said that Syrian President Bashar Assad, who visited Moscow last year, has pledged to help achieve that.

"There is nothing more democratic than elections," Putin said.

The Russian leader said he expects the U.S. to work with its allies in the region to encourage the Syrian opposition to engage in a constructive dialogue with the government. He also welcomed what he described as a U.S. proposal to "think about incorporating some opposition representatives in the existing government structures, including the cabinet."

"And it's necessary to think what kind of powers that cabinet will have," he said. Putin added, however, that it would be "unrealistic" to expect that such Cabinet would effectively take over power from Assad.

Earlier Friday, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov strongly warned Washington against striking Assad's forces, saying it would fuel turmoil across the entire region.

An attempt to topple Assad's government "wouldn't help a successful fight against terrorism and could plunge the region into total chaos," Peskov said.