“The main thing is that conditions have been created for launching a genuine political process through the wide inter-Syrian dialogue in Geneva overseen by the UN”, Putin said.
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Both Russia and the US would develop ways to monitor the cease-fire that would include the use of a hotline.
The United States and Russian Federation agreed Monday on a new cease-fire for Syria that will take effect on Saturday, U.S. officials said.
Speaking on Russian television late Monday, Putin portrayed the agreement as the result of intense, joint work by the Russians and Americans, which he said should provide an example to the world in the fight against terrorism.
Merkel renewed February 17 her proposal for a no-fly zone in Syria, saying it could be done by an agreement between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, his backers and the coalition fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
The cease-fire’s scope is limited, however.
The ceasefire will exclude Islamic State and al-Qaeda linked Nusra Front militants, two Western diplomatic sources told Reuters.
Syria has since seen continuing violence, with 140 killed in bombings in Homs and Damascus on Sunday. “This is why it’s very fragile and the proof is what happened in Homs and Damascus”.
The balance has shifted in Assad’s favor since Russian Federation intervened militarily on his behalf in September.
Residents of the Syrian capital expressed skepticism on Monday about talk of a “provisional agreement” for a truce, a day after a wave of Islamic State bombings killed about 130 people in government-held areas near Damascus and another city.
In contrast, the U.S.is taking the high ground. After meeting in Germany last week, US and Russian officials announced a planned ceasefire beginning Friday in Syria, although Washington said Moscow needs to “put up or shut up” to implement a potential ceasefire.
More than 250,000 people have been killed, more than 1 million injured and more than half of Syrians displaced since the country’s civil war began in 2011, according to the United Nations.
The minister said: “A land operation of Saudi Arabia and Turkey in Syria has never been on the agenda, and it is not on the agenda”.
“The modalities for a cessation of hostilities are now being completed”, Kerry said, adding that it was “possible over the course of these next hours”.
“It’s about preventing other countries, especially Turkey, from sending more recruits, more terrorists, more armaments, or any kind of logistical support to those terrorists”. The city is nearly completely controlled by the Syrian government, and has regularly been targeted by attacks.
“And fighters from IS cut off a different part of the route from the northern side at the same time”, Abdel Rahman said. “Over the coming days, we will be working to secure commitments from key parties that they will abide by the terms”.
Russia’s prime minister insists his country has not been bombing civilians in Syria, but the USA says they have.
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Fighting has been fierce in Aleppo province in recent weeks amid a government offensive to cut off the rebel stronghold.
