The aim of Russia’s military operation in Syria is not to keep President Bashar al-Assad in power but to defeat Islamic State militants, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Saturday.

Russia began air strikes in Syria in late September in an effort to weaken Islamic State militants, as Russia claims.

However, Western countries said that with this move Russia tries to support Assad since some of Russia’s air strikes targeted groups which are not affiliated to Islamic State but are trying to unseat Assad, and are backed by the United States and its allies.

“Russia, the United States, and all other states that have a stake in seeing peace in this region and in Syria, and a strong government, too, should be discussing precisely political issues,” Medvedev told to Rossiya TV channel.

“It does not really matter who will be at the helm. We don’t want ISIS to run Syria, do we? It should be a civilised and legitimate government. This is what we need to discuss,” Medvedev said, using another name for the Islamic State.

Asked whether Syria had to be governed by Assad, Medvedev said: “No, absolutely not. It is up to the Syrian people to decide who will be the head of Syria…. At the moment, we operate on the premise that al-Assad is the legitimate president.”