Syria conflict: Leaked Russian peace plan makes no mention of President Assad stepping down
Mr Assad, who is backed by Vladimir Putin, would not chair the constitutional commission under Moscow’s plans to end five years of conflict.
The document calls for UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura to launch a political process between the Syrian government and “a united delegation of the opposition groups”.
Russia’s deputy UN ambassador Vladimir Safronkov, while expressing regret that the document had been leaked, said: “It’s our vision – it’s our proposal.”
He added: “And, of course, we are receptive to proposals from the other side. It’s just Russia’s contribution – how we launch a political process to make parties work together, government and opposition.”
The document was circulated ahead of a second round of talks in Vienna on Saturday among key governments on both sides of the conflict.