US Department of State’s Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner said it has been Russia’s support for the Assad regime over the past months and the siege of Aleppo that has intensified the conflict and put the Syrian peace talks in jeopardy.
During his daily press briefing on Thursday, Toner said that the Munich “truce agreement is important, but now we need to see action on the ground. And that includes Russia’s commitment through actions, concrete actions, to what it has already committed to in words over the past three months.”
Toner stressed the need to see an end to the bombing. “We need to see an end to the support for Assad that, frankly, is only exacerbating the situation on the ground.” He said that a ceasefire task force has been set up to implement the Munich agreement.
Toner added that the task force it is co-chaired by Russia and the United States and includes political and military officials with the participation of ISSG members with influence on the armed opposition groups and pro-regime forces. “Let’s give this task force a chance to implement this pause in the fighting, this cessation of hostilities,” Toner said. (Source: Agencies)