MOSCOW, February 23. /TASS/. Presidents of the United States and Russia - Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama - have reached an agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Syria, which is due to come into force at midnight on February 27 after all the parties to the conflict will sign up to it, Putin said in a statement placed on the Kremlin website.
Putin and Obama
"I have just had a telephone conversation with U.S. President Barack Obama," Putin said. "The Russian side initiated the talk but the interest was mutual without doubt. During the talk we approved the joint statements of Russia and the United States, as (the co-chairs of) the International Syria Support Group, on the cessation of hostilities in that country."
"I am convinced that joint efforts agreed with the U.S. (to ensure the cessation of hostilities - eds. TASS) are capable of turning the tide most radically in settlement of the Syria crisis," Putin said.