Vladimir Putin has discussed working with international "partners" to take on Islamic State militants, according to Russian media.
The Russian president was reported to have talked about the issue with his Security Council today.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov would not say which countries Russia may be willing to work with.
One of the most senior US military officials has said he may yet advise President Obama to send ground troops into Iraq to combat Islamic State militants.
General Martin Dempsey said that if there were "threats to the United States" he would make a recommendation that "may include the use of US military ground forces".
ITV News Washington Correspondent Robert Moore reports:
Did Philip Hammond misspeak or did he reveal the thinking at the highest levels of government on military action in Syria?
President Obama - a leader who thought his legacy would be ending two conflicts - has plunged the US into the maelstrom of two civil wars.
A social media campaign imitating the popular Ice Bucket Challenge has gone viral. Its target is Islamic State.