Putin Says Ceasefire in Syria Presents real Chance to Stop Bloodshed

Presidents of the United States and Russia – Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama – have reached an agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Syria, which is due to come into force at midnight on February 27 after all the parties to the conflict will sign up to it, Putin said in a statement placed on the Kremlin website, “Armenpress” reports, citing “TASS”.

“I have just had a telephone conversation with U.S. President Barack Obama,” Putin said. “The Russian side initiated the talk but the interest was mutual without doubt. During the talk we approved the joint statements of Russia and the United States.
Strikes on the Islamic State and other terrorist groups in Syria will be continued after the agreement on the cessation of hostilities comes into force, Putin is confident.
“As for the ISIL and Jabhat al-Nusra and other terrorist organizations designated as such by the UN Security Council, they are totally excluded from the regime of the cessation of hostilities,” Putin said in comments on the ceasefire due to come into force in Syria at midnight on February 27.

“Strikes will be delivered on them further on,” he said.

“The agreement has been reached that fighting will end in Syria at midnight Damascus time on February 27, 2016, under the conditions constituting an integral part of the joint statement of Russia and the U.S.,” the Russian president said.
In particular, he said “by noon February 26 all the warring sides in Syria need to confirm to us or to our American partners their adherence to the ceasefire.”