Kerry told reporters, “We are announcing an arrangement that we think has the capability of sticking, but it’s dependent on people’s choices”.
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But both Kerry and Lavrov said the complex plan represents the best available chance to end the fighting between the government and the mainstream opposition rebels, while still targeting Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (the group formerly known as the Al Nusra Front) and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group.
The US supports the opposition that is fighting to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, an ally of Russian Federation.
Russian Federation is also conducting airstrikes, but Washington has accused it of carrying out operations aimed at propping up the Assad regime by striking members of USA -back moderate opponents of the Syrian president. Kerry called the announcement a potential “turning point” for conflict in Syria, in which over 470,000 people have been killed.
Russia, in response, has chafed at America’s financial and military assistance to groups that have intermingled with the Nusra Front on the battlefield.
In return, the United States is supposed to persuade the opposition groups it has been supporting to separate themselves from Nusra forces.
The agreement also involves pullbacks from both sides in a major road in the war-torn city of Aleppo and the creation of a demilitarized zone, and unhindered humanitarian access.
Lavrov said the Assad government was “ready to fulfil” the provisions of the ceasefire pact.
In a news conference, Lavrov underlined that agreement has been undermined by a “deep lack of confidence and trust between Russian Federation and the American partners, ” particularly, but not exclusively, in Syria.
The statement said that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had “closely followed” the process to secure the ceasefire, following talks with Russian and United States counterparts Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama on the sidelines of the G20 in China.
Cooperation was to come only after a cease-fire was implemented between the Assad government and its Russian and Iranian backers, and opposition forces backed by the United States and its allies in Europe and the region.
The military deal would go into effect after both sides abide by the truce for a week and allow unimpeded humanitarian deliveries.
“Today we have developed a significant, practical and concrete package of documents”, Lavrov said of the agreements reached between the two powers. “We and the USA commit to doing everything we can to make sure all sides” fulfill their obligations, he said.
The Pentagon said in a statement it would carefully monitor the “preliminary understanding” agreed on Friday and cautioned the Assad regime and its backer, Russia, to stick to deal requirements.
Washington wants Moscow to help clinch a ceasefire, get humanitarian aid to civilians and – eventually – set the stage for political talks to end a five-year war that has killed more than 290,000.
Shortly before midnight, Mr Lavrov appeared with several boxes of pizza, saying: “This is from the United States delegation”. Forty days of fighting in the city have killed almost 700 civilians, including 160 children, the Associated Press reported.
On the peace talks, however, the gaps remain vast, WMOT said.
But as with previous blueprints for peace, Saturday’s plan appears to lack enforcement mechanisms.
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Russian Federation has emphasised the possibility of reaching a deal with Washington on military collaboration against terrorist groups in the country.
