McCain Says Syrian Truce Unlikely, Blames Putin for Refugees

Kerry also said that Russian Federation would have to change tactics if an agreement Friday for a temporary truce in Syria is to actually take effect in a week.

Western powers say that without an end to Russia’s bombing, there is little hope for Syria, where the continuing conflict has killed more than a quarter of a million people.

“Creating trust is hard… but we have to start”.

“In particular, a support was expressed to efforts of two target groups: for ceasefire and humanitarian aspects”, the Kremlin said.

In his own remarks to the conference, U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry said that “the Cold War is long over”, although he said there was still a need “for the courage and the resolve in defending liberty and in pursuing peace”.

He also acknowledged that the agreements were “commitments on paper” only. Another task force will oversee the delivery of aid, including working with Syria to open routes of access.

Worldwide divisions over Syria have resurfaced at the Munich conference where Russian Federation has rejected charges by France and the United States it’s bombing civilians.

The taskforce will include members of the military along with representatives from countries that are supporting various armed groups in Syria.

“Russia has indiscriminately bombed civilians and moderate opposition groups for months with impunity”, he said.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Saturday warned here of catastrophic consequences in case that the conflict in Syria dragged on and that the world has slid into a “new cold war,” criticizing the West’s “unfriendly” policy against his country.

Medvedev, whose presidency was seen as a period of a relative thaw, added that Russian Federation and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation have cut short their exchanges on security issues.

Russia’s Prime Minister has bluntly described rising tensions with the West over airstrikes in Syria as the “new Cold War”.

The Kurdish YPG militia, helped by Russian air raids, seized an ex-military air base at Menagh last week, angering Turkey, which sees the YPG as an extension of the PKK, a Kurdish group that waged a bloody insurgent campaign on Turkish soil over most of the past three decades.

“It is no accident that Mr. Putin has agreed on a cessation of hostilities”.

It came moments after French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said Russian Federation must stop killing civilians if there is to be an end to Syria’s five-year civil war.

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

And the move would complicate any attempt by Saudi Arabia to send ground forces to the area to fight IS.

Cavusoglu did not specify the number of troops or jets or the timing of a possible deployment, but said exploratory visits had been made. Another faction led by the United States has supported rebels.