Kerry: UNSC Needs Russian-Backed Resolution to Settle Syrian Conflict

All stakeholders involved in the Syrian peace process agree that the UN Security Council should draft a resolution on a political solution that Russia supports, US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The agreement to end hostilities in Syria would not have been possible if Russia did not cooperate with the United States, US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday.

"Everybody who is a stakeholder [in] Syria… [agrees] to get a UN Security Council resolution outlining a framework for a political settlement — and Russia voting for it," Kerry stated.

The UN Security Council failed to support Russia-drafted resolution condemning Turkey's shelling of the Syrian territory and protecting Syria's sovereignty.

Six members of the Council, including the United States, the UK and France, rejected the draft resolution in a closed-doors vote on Friday.

"In fact, without Russia’s cooperation I’m not sure we would have been able to have achieved the [ceasefire] agreement we have now," Kerry stated.

On Monday, Russia and the United States announced an agreement on cessation of hostilities between the Syrian government of President Bashar Assad and the armed opposition factions had been reached. The agreement will come into force on February 27.

US-Russia collaboration has been "fruitful" Kerry added, and Moscow’s cooperation could provide "significant" benefits in the fight against the Islamic State, also known as Daesh.