Obama calls up Putin, asks him to stop Russian jets bombing Syria

Both sides “gave a positive evaluation” of the results of talks in Munich last week, according to a Kremlin statement.

The agreement reached Friday in Germany’s Munich among members of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) marked a significant step toward a peaceful settlement of the Syrian crisis, but its implementation faces many challenges, Russian experts said.

In a statement the Kremlin said that Putin asked Obama to help create a united worldwide front against global terrorism.

He added that it was also an opportunity to deliver humanitarian aid desperately needed by Syrian civilians.

Sen. John McCain on Sunday blasted a deal to seek a pause in fighting in Syria, arguing it plays into a Russian strategy to continue attacks on American-backed rebels.

However, Dean noted that the main reason behind the deal is Russia’s military campaign in Syria, conducted upon a request by Damascus since September past year.

He has warned of the harm Russian airstrikes inSyriahas been causing to the activies of the moderate opposition by pushing some opposition forces back from the positions they previously controlled.

Poroshenko stressed that Russian Federation should “return control” to Kiev over Ukraine’s borders, “release all hostages” because “we don’t want tensions, no escalation, no war in this region”. The bombardment killed two YPG fighters, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

“Let’s be clear about what this agreement does: it permits the assault on Aleppo to continue for another week”.

“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”, the Arizona Republican at the conclusion of the three-day, annual Munich Security Conference.

Norbert Roettgen, head of the foreign affairs committee in the German parliament, was skeptical about how Russian Federation would behave in the days and weeks ahead, despite agreeing to a cessation of hostilities. Riyadh has said it was ready to participate in a ground operation in Syria if the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State there decides to start one.

Turkish television channels NTV and CNN Turk also carried remarks by Cavusoglu suggesting that Turkey and Saudi Arabia see eye-to-eye on the need for ground operations in Syria.

Meanwhile Turkey’s foreign minister said Turkey was mulling a ground invasion of Syria with Saudi forces.