President Obama spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin Monday by phone, at the Kremlin’s request, to discuss Moscow’s decision to halt its Syrian bombing campaign starting Saturday, the White House stated.
“President Obama welcomed that an understanding was reached between the United States, Russia, as well as other partners in the International Syria Support Group, on the terms,” the White House reported about the content of the call.
“President Obama emphasized that the priority now was to ensure positive responses by the Syrian regime and armed opposition, as well as faithful implementation by all parties in order to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people, galvanize UN-led political process, and focus on defeating ISIL,” the White House stated, using the Obama administration’s preferred acronym for the self-proclaimed Islamic State.
Secretary of State John Kerry spent the weekend trying to convince Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to agree to a cease-fire. Russia first sent sorties over Syrian skies in September, ostensibly to assist in the U.S.-led air campaign against the self-proclaimed Islamic State. But instead, Russian guns have mostly been trained on U.S.-backed rebels seeking to oust dictator Bashar Assad.
Kerry has been trying to get all sides in the five-year civil war to agree to a cease-fire so that stalled peace talks could resume. Anti-Assad forces pulled out of the talks over concerns that Russian bombardments against them wouldn’t end.
Russia originally staked a position that it would abide by a cease-fire but reserve the right to continue pummeling “terrorists.” Now, Russia has agreed to halt operations against all forces except those designated as terrorists by the United Nations, such as Islamic State and the al-Nusra Front.
Obama used the opportunity to press Putin on Ukraine.
“President Obama also emphasized the importance of the fulfillment by combined Russian-separatist forces in eastern Ukraine of their obligations under the Minsk agreements, particularly honoring the cease-fire and permitting [international observers] full access to the conflict area, including the international border,” the White House stated.
This story was updated at 6:03 p.m.
