Russia will not tell Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down to end the civil war and make way for a political transition, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said.

The remarks were a reiteration of Moscow's position that Mr Assad's exit must not be a precondition for a negotiated solution to the two-year conflict that has killed more than 70,000 people.

Asked whether there was a chance Russia would tell Mr Assad he should step down for the sake of a peace agreement, Mr Lavrov replied: "Absolutely not. You know that we're not in the regime-change game."

"We are against interference in domestic conflicts. And this is our position, which should be of no surprise to anyone."

Mr Lavrov said Mr Assad had repeatedly said he was not going to leave.

He said: "All those who get in touch with him know that he is not bluffing, and that he is prepared to discuss any issue – among the Syrians."

Russia has blocked three UN Security Council resolutions meant to push Assad out or press him to end violence, a position that has set it against Western and Arab nations, which say he must leave power.

Mr Lavrov spoke before a visit to London for the first meeting under the auspices of a new "strategic dialogue" between Russia and Britain. Syria is among the issues on the agenda for the talks on Wednesday between the two countries.