Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (R) during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on December 29, 2016. AFP
MOSCOW, Russia 鈥� Russian President Vladimir听Putin听on Thursday announced that the听Syrian听regime听and听rebels听had听signed听a ceasefire听deal听and agreed to start peace talks.
Putin听said in televised comments that Damascus and the bulk of the armed opposition had听signed听a document on a ceasefire in Syria and also an announcement on their readiness to start peace negotiations.
鈥淭hree documents have been听signed. The first is a document between the听Syrian government and armed opposition for a ceasefire on the territory of Syria,鈥澨齈utin听said at a meeting with his defense and foreign ministers.
鈥淭he second document is a set of measures to verify the ceasefire. The third document is an announcement of their readiness to start peace talks.鈥�
The听truce听deal听will go into effect from midnight, Russia鈥檚 defense minister Sergei Shoigu said, with the听Syrian听military announcing that it was gearing up to halt all operations.
Shoigu said the rebel groups that have听signed听up to the ceasefire comprise some 62,000 fighters and that negotiations had been going on for two months to secure the听truce.
Syria鈥檚 opposition National Coalition announced that it backed a nationwide ceasefire brokered by Turkey and Russia that will take effect from midnight.
As a result of the ceasefire听deal,听Putin听said that Russia would now reduce its forces in Syria, while insisting that Moscow would maintain its support for the听Syrian government.
鈥淚 agree with the proposal from the defense ministry for the reduction of our military presence in Syria,鈥澨齈utin听said, without giving any more details on the move./rga
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