Support The Moscow Times!

Putin and Assad Discuss Syrian Cease-fire Deal

Syrian President Bashar Assad

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Wednesday to discuss the cessation of hostilities in Syria from Feb. 27, the RBC news agency reported, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

The presidents "discussed various aspects of the Syrian crisis in light of the Russian-U.S. agreement on the partial cease-fire," the Kremlin's press service said in the statement.

"Bashar Assad considered the agreement's terms to be a big step toward political regulation of the crisis," the statement said.

On Sunday, Russia and the United States agreed to halt military operations in Syria from Feb. 27, though the deal would not concern Russia's fight with Islamic State and other terrorist groups, according to the Russian president's announcement, RBC reported.

The joint work on the Syrian problem may improve relations between Russia and the United States and "increase the level of trust," Peskov said.

According to Peskov, the partial cease-fire was prepared during close bilateral talks between Russia and the United States, but Assad might have "his own view of the regulation."

"The range of opinions is huge. It demands meticulous work," Peskov said, RBC reported.

Islamic State is a terrorist group banned in Russia.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more