Barack Obama phoned Vladimir Putin at the weekend to discuss the diplomatic standoff.
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The first round of the UN-sponsored talks at the beginning of February ended abruptly after three days because the Russian/Iranian pro-Assad coalition started an offensive against rebels in Syria’s largest city Aleppo on the first day of the conference in the Swiss city.
“I wish I could share the views of some of my friends who see this agreement as a potential breakthrough but unfortunately I do not”, McCain, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, said at the Munich Security Conference.
Russian servicemen prepare a Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter jet before departure on a mission at the Russian Hmeimin military base in Latakia Province, in the northwest of Syria, on December 16, 2015.
According to an ISSG statement issued last Friday, humanitarian access to besieged areas in Syria will begin this week, along with a nationwide “cessation of hostilities”.
Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev said there was “no evidence of our bombing civilians, even though everyone is accusing us of this”.
Kerry, however, accused Russian Federation of dropping so-called “dumb bombs” in Syria that do not have a precise target, saying this has led to the killing of civilians.
It remains unclear whether those commitments can be made to stick on the ground and whether deep differences regarding the truce and which groups would be eligible for it between the US and Russian Federation among others can be overcome.
They agreed to intensify cooperation so as to implement the consensus reached at the ISSG meeting.
“I believe Bashar al-Assad is weak and I believe Bashar al-Assad is finished”, said Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.
He said it was “wrong” to claim the “moderate” opposition to the Syrian regime had been crushed.
The agreement for a pause in combat – which will allow humanitarian aid in – will not take effect for a week.
“We are simply trying to protect our national interests”, he said, adding that Moscow wanted to prevent Islamist militants getting to Russian Federation.
Valls said his government “respects Russia and Russia’s interests” but “that to re-discover the path to peace, to discussion, the Russian bombing of civilians has to stop”. France also called on Sunday for Turkey to halt the bombardment.
The Syrian government and the opposition would both have to agree to the details. “In view of the tense situation, Turkey too must show restraint”.
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U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement Saturday that Turkey and the Kurdish forces shared a serious threat from ISIS just to the east of Azaz.. The Kurds are significant players in Syrian society and have military capabilities on the ground, and they are fighting Islamic State and should have a rightful place at the talks – a position shared by the US, Gatilov said.
