US Secretary of State John Kerry said today that he and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reached a preliminary agreement on the terms of a cease-fire in Syria.
"We have reached a preliminary agreement on the terms of the cessation of hostilities, which could come into effect in the next few days," Kerry said at a news conference in Amman with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, as reported by Reuters.
Kerry stated that he had spoken with Lavrov several times, the last time this morning, and that they expect US and Russian presidents Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin to meet in the coming days to confirm the preliminary agreement.
The US Secretary of State said that the two sides are "still working out the details of the agreement" and added: "We are closer to a ceasefire than we have been so far."
Kerry pointed out that reaching a final agreement will take several days while the two sides consult with other countries as well as the Syrian opposition.
"Russia should talk with the Syrian government and Iran, and the US with the Syrian opposition and its partners," he said.
The head of American diplomacy did not want to provide more details about the agreement and stated that he does not expect an immediate change on the ground when it comes to fighting.
"I do not believe that in the next few days, during which we will try to implement the agreement, there will be a turning point when it comes to the development of the situation on the ground. The opposition has clearly expressed its desire to defend itself," Kerry said.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Lavrov and Kerry spoke by phone this morning about the terms of the cease-fire in Syria.
The statement said that the two ministers discussed the terms of a ceasefire that would exclude operations against organizations "considered terrorist organizations by the United Nations Security Council."
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said yesterday that he is ready for a cease-fire, provided that "terrorists" do not use the lull in the fighting to their advantage, and that the states that support the rebels stop their support.
In addition, the Syrian opposition announced earlier that it had agreed to the "possibility of a temporary truce", on the condition that it receives guarantees that the allies of the official Damascus, including Russia, will cease fire, that the blockade of the besieged cities will be ended and that humanitarian aid will be delivered throughout the country.
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