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France insisted Monday that a solution to the crisis in Syria could only come through a "political negotiation between different Syrian parties" but reiterated that President Bashar Assad "cannot" be one of them, AFP reported.

"Our position is clear," said foreign ministry spokesman Romain Nadal, after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry acknowledged talks with Damascus would be necessary to end the conflict which is entering its fifth year.

"Our goal is a negotiated political settlement between the different Syrian parties that leads to a unity government. It is clear for us that Bashar Assad cannot be in this framework," added Nadal.

Kerry told CBS television Sunday: "We have to negotiate in the end," when asked if he would talk with the Syrian leader.

His spokeswoman later stressed that the comments indicated no change in U.S. policy, saying "there is no future for a brutal dictator like Assad in Syria."

But Syrian media touted the statement as a reversal in U.S. policy that acknowledged Assad's "legitimacy."

Assad himself said he was waiting for US "actions" after Kerry's comments.