US President Barack Obama on Wednesday praised Russia’s role in talks to end the Syria crisis.

US President Barack Obama on Wednesday praised Russia's role in talks to end the Syria crisis.

Obama said Russia had been a "constructive partner in Vienna in trying to create a political transition," referring to international talks in Austria.

But, he said, there were still differences over the fate of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

"There is obviously a catch, which is Moscow is still interested in keeping Assad in power," Obama said, after a meeting with Philippine President Benigno Aquino in Manila.

But he added: "Those differences have not prevented us at looking at how could we set up a cease fire."

"In their initial military incursion into Syria, they have been more focused on propping up President Assad," Obama said.

"If, in fact, he shifts his focus and the focus of his military, to what is the principle threat, which is ISIL, then that is what we want to see," Obama said, referring to the so-callec “Islamic State in Iraq and Levant Takfiri group.

"We are going to wait and see whether Russia does end up paying more attention to ISIL targets. If it does so, that's something we welcome."