Sides Start Implementing Russian-US Plan on Ceasefire in Syria

The sides started to implement the agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Syria, a Russian diplomatic source said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The practical realization of the cessation of hostilities in Syria has begun, a source in the Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

"The practical realization has begun," the source told journalists.

On Monday, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that 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.

The deal between Russia and the United States was approved by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG). During its meeting on February 12, the ISSG agreed a final communique calling for swift humanitarian access to all besieged areas in Syria, and set a one-week deadline for measures to be implemented toward the cessation of hostilities in the country.

All Efforts Should Be Focused on Russian-US 'Plan A' for Ceasefire in Syria

Moscow is unaware of any "Plan B" by Washington should the current cessation of hostilities in Syria  come apart at the seams and all efforts should be focused on the original signed agreement, the source said.

“The Russian side knows of no 'Plan B.' Intensive work was done on the joint statement and all efforts need to be focused on its fulfillment.”

Earlier, the Guardian reported Kerry announced steps that would be made toward a backup plan that could include the division of Syria if the ceasefire planned for February 27 does not work or if an actual swing to a transition government does not happen within the next few months.