Russia hopes the U.N.-Arab League envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, will visit Moscow soon, perhaps this month, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told the state-run Itar-Tass news agency Friday.

"We believe the sooner we will take active politico-diplomatic steps in this direction, the sooner the bloodshed is ceased," he was quoted as saying.

Moscow has long backed al-Assad's regime and has blocked U.N. Security Council resolutions on Syria.

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Gennady Gatilov said on Twitter: "Everyone must be cautious in the #Syrian situation. Cross-border incidents resulting in escalation of the conflict are unacceptable."