Russian Federation says ‘only one side’ implementing Syria truce deal

The UN security council was due to meet in the evening to discuss whether to endorse the truce, billed as the “last chance” to end the five-year war.

He quoted Russian observers of the ceasefire near the besieged city of Aleppo and said that the “the only party which is willing to hold talks, comply with the cease-fire and pull back the troops in order to allow United Nations humanitarian aid convoys” are the Syrian government forces.

Russia, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, said it is prepared to extend the ceasefire, originally set for a week, for three more days.

“The Secretary made clear that the United States will not establish the Joint Implementation Centre with Russian Federation unless and until the agreed terms for humanitarian access are met”, Kirby said.

If the ceasefire holds for seven days, Russian Federation and the USA would then coordinate military planning to destroy the Islamic State and the Al-Qaeda affiliated Al Nusra militias.

The rebel official said it was not possible for Russian Federation to be a sponsor of the agreement while it bombed the country night and day, while on the other side America had the role of spectator.

Russian Federation complained earlier on Friday that only its ally, the Assad regime, was respecting the ceasefire but they also suggested it be extended by a further 72 hours.

Russian Federation is a key ally of the Assad regime and is pushing for the UN Security Council to endorse the agreement, but France and other council members have stated that they first need to learn more details about the deal.

Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army rebels are pushing south in northern Syria from the towns of al-Rai and Azaz towards the Islamic State-held town of al-Bab, supported by tanks and jets, security sources said, clashing with the jihadist group.

A senior rebel in Aleppo warned the truce “will not hold out” as some fighting persisted and aid failed to come through.

Experts say the deal will be particularly hard to implement in areas where Jabhat Fateh al-Sham has formed strong alliances with other rebel groups.

Warplanes strafed or bombed rebel-held areas in Maarat al-Numan, Saraqeb and Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib, Teir Maalah, north of Homs, and Souha, east of Hama, overnight after other strikes earlier on Friday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Both the Islamist faction Faylaq al-Sham and Fateh al-Sham are thought to be present there.

Despite his comments, Putin also sounded a positive note on the ceasefire on Saturday morning, saying in a televised interview that Moscow and Washington have “a shared goal”.

But as well as a reduction in violence the U.S. also demanded that supplies be allowed to reach areas under siege across the country and especially in Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city.

Two convoys of aid for Aleppo have been waiting at the Turkish border for days. “They have not come”, United Nations humanitarian affairs spokesman Jens Laerke said in Geneva.

“The challenge we continue to face – and this is the very sad reality – is ensuring all parties to the conflict, and those with influence over them, are in agreement”, he told AFP. He told journalists to ask the Syrian regime why it refuses to allow the humanitarian convoy to enter Aleppo, noting that there are about 250,000 people in the eastern part of the city who are in urgent need of aid. “It’s highly frustrating. We know the whole world is watching”.

Washington said it agreed that an extension was important, but also voiced alarm over the failure of aid to arrive.

“And that’s the direct responsibility of the Assad regime and their benefactors in Moscow”.