Syria’s Deputy Prime Minister, Qadri Jamil, says the civil war is in a stalemate and cannot be won by either side.

He was speaking in an interview with Jonathan Steele, a correspondent for Britain’s Guardian newspaper.

After the interview, Jamil’s party said he was only speaking on behalf of his political party. But according to Steele, Jamil made clear he was speaking on behalf of the Syrian government.

Jamil also sketched out conditions for stalled peace talks in Geneva, including a ceasefire, an end to foreign intervention, and the launching of a peaceful political process.

Rebels insist that President Bashar al-Assad must resign before any peace talks.