Russian Foreign Ministry - Russia, U.S. close to a deal on Syria

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov looks on at the start of two days of closed-door nuclear talks at the United Nations offices in Geneva October 15, 2013. REUTERS/Fabrice Coffrini/Pool

HANGZHOU, China (Reuters) - Russia and the United States are close to reaching a deal in Syria, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Sunday.

"We are close to the deal ... But art of diplomacy requires time to implementation. I can't tell you when the agreement will be reached and announced," Ryabkov told reporters. "I think we have no reason to expect that talks will collapse."