US Secretary of State John Kerry says he and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov "have achieved clarity on the path forward" in Syria, but have "narrow issues" to resolve.
The two held talks in Geneva to try to find a way of reviving a cessation of hostilities that faltered months ago.
Mr Kerry said they were close, but would not rush into an agreement.
The talks come as the Damascus suburb of Darayya was evacuated after a four-year siege by the government.
After meeting for 12 hours, Mr Kerry said the "vast majority'' of technical discussions had been completed, adding that experts would remain in Geneva to work on the unresolved steps in the coming days.
He stressed that the only way to solve the conflict was through political agreement.
"We want to have something done that is effective and that works for the people of Syria, that makes the region more stable and secure, and that brings us to the table here in Geneva to find a political solution," he said.
John Kerry did not say what the "narrow issues" to be resolved were, but this is an indication of how complex and fragmented Syria's five year conflict now is.
The United States and Russia have been trying to forge an unprecedented deal: sharing intelligence, even co-operating militarily, in a bid to bring a ceasefire to Syria, and ultimately, to restart peace negotiations.
All summer military specialists from both Moscow and Washington have been meeting off and on in Geneva, and it is believed there is a lot of common ground.
But the two big powers have to persuade the many different groups now fighting, and that is clearly proving difficult.
Mr Kerry reminded journalists of the image, widely shared on social media, of a five-year-old boy sitting dazed in an ambulance after an air strike in Aleppo, saying "that image needs to motivate all of us, to get the job done".
The image of five-year-old Omran Daqneesh covered in grey dust and fresh blood should motivate everyone "to get the job done", says John Kerry
Mr Kerry said the Syrian government, with the help of its allies including Russia, continued to breach the terms of an existing cessation of hostilities agreement.
"Aleppo continues to be besieged and bombarded by the regime and its allies, including Iran, Russia and Hezbollah, and the regime just today forced the surrender of Darayya after a brutal four years of siege," he said.
He was speaking hours after the first buses left Darayya, accompanied by ambulances and Red Crescent vehicles.
The UN has expressed concern over the plan, saying it is essential that those leaving do so voluntarily.
The Syrian army encircled Darayya in 2012 and just one aid delivery has reached the town since then.
Opposition fighters are due to be given safe passage to the rebel-held city of Idlib, while civilians are going to government shelters in Damascus.
The withdrawal of rebels just a few miles from Damascus is a boost for President Bashar al-Assad, analysts say.
Years of bombardment have devastated the town of Darayya
The first buses left on Friday afternoon, carrying civilians and rebel fighters
Residents carried what belongings they could take as they awaited evacuation
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