UN envoy for Syria de Mistura (UN Photo)
Geneva (IINA) – UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura on Tuesday said he hoped the announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin to begin withdrawal of troops from Syria would help the peace talks in Geneva, news agencies reported.
Putin's surprise announcement came amid encouraging signs that a partial ceasefire adopted on February 27 has led to the first significant drop in violence in the war-torn country.
De Mistura described the withdrawal announcement as a “significant development” for talks that began here on Monday, the latest push to end the brutal conflict as it enters its sixth year.
“We hope (this) will have a positive impact on the progress of the negotiations,” he said in a statement.
US Secretary of State John Kerry announced Tuesday that he will visit Moscow and meet with Putin to discuss Syrian peace efforts. Meanwhile, U.S. officials cautioned Tuesday that it is too soon to conclude that Russia is really withdrawing from Syria. "We're going to judge Russia by its actions – not its words," USA TODAY quoted State Department Spokesman John Kirby as saying.
AB/IINA
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