RUSSIA and Turkey’s foreign ministers said yesterday they were working towards a ceasefire in Syria, amid reports of secret talks with extremists.

The Financial Times reported yesterday that Turkey was mediating talks in Ankara between Moscow and groups including the notorious Nour al-Din al-Zinki brigade.

“The Russians and Turks are talking without the US now. It is completely shut out of these talks, and doesn’t even know what’s going on in Ankara,” said one unidentified militant.