Moscow: On Monday, Russia issued
warning to USA that it will start responding unilaterally to ceasefire
violations in Syria if the U.S. refuses to co-ordinate rules of engagement
against violators.
The U.S. State Department
insisted that Moscow and Washington were working constructively to monitor the
truce and warned Russia against taking unilateral action. Russia's Defense
Ministry said that the country's military was ready to strike as early as
Tuesday against groups that it said were violating the cease-fire unless U.S.
leaders agree to discuss a Russian proposal for how to maintain the peace. So
far, Russian warplanes have been observing the cease-fire.
In Washington, State Department spokesman John
Kirby said the U.S. and Russia were working together to collect and analyze
information about ceasefire violations, and that any unilateral Russian action
to punish transgressors goes against “the spirit of the cessation of
hostilities.”“Our expectation is that Russia will refrain from unilateral
actions,” Kirby stressed, saying the cessation of hostilities is holding
despite some breaches. There is “no reason for anybody to say that there needs
to be unilateral action taken,” he further added.
In Geneva, the UN special envoy for Syria,
whose office is helping monitor ceasefire violations in Syria, said he was
“extremely supportive” of U.S. and Russian co-operation to help bolster a peace
process for the war-torn country. Staffan de Mistura, the UN envoy to Syria,
pointed to the unprecedented “operation centre” that is designed to help the
two powers’ military and civilian experts to “co-operate in containing the
crisis.”
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria
Zakharova said that the U.S. side had been slow to respond to Russian
allegations of violations. However, a Pentagon spokesman said that there was no
such delay.
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