Assad’s comments come as the French prime minister said that France will decide “alone” its targets when conducting airstrikes in Syria to fight ISIS.

A political solution will only be possible in Syria after terrorists are defeated there, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said in an interview to Russian media published on Tuesday.

“We can arrive at a consensus but we won’t be able to carry anything out for as long as we don’t defeat terrorism in Syria,” Assad was quoted as saying.

Assad’s comments come as the French prime minister said that France will decide “alone” its targets when conducting airstrikes in Syria to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group.

Manuel Valls confirmed France would have “full autonomy of decision and action” and ruled out any intervention on the ground by French military, in a speech at Parliament.

French reconnaissance flights over Syria began last week, and President Francois Hollande said airstrikes would follow soon.

Until now, France has only conducted airstrikes in Iraq as a member of the U.S.-led coalition, fearing that hitting at ISIS in Syria would ultimately help the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Valls justified the decision to intervene in Syria by the right to “self-defense” against terrorism.