The resolution of crises in the Middle East is impossible as long as terrorists are used as pawns in geopolitical games, the Russian foreign minister said.

A solution to the Middle East crises cannot bring success if terrorists are used as pawns in geopolitical games, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday.

“The further degradation of the situation presents a serious threat for the entire international architecture…Obviously a strong stability of the situation is impossible without the destruction of the center of the terrorist threat, first and foremost Daesh, which has taken control of large expanses of territory in the Middle East.”

“Obviously this work cannot be successful if attempts are not stopped at using terrorists as pawns in doubtful geopolitical games,” Lavrov said at a meeting with the international Valdai Club in Moscow.