Lavrov to Sputnik: Russian-US Joint Work on Syrian Ceasefire 'Satisfactory'

The joint work of Russian and US militaries on Syria's ceasefire is satisfactory in light of an unexpected decrease in violence after the truce came into force, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Sputnik in an exclusive interview.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – He stressed that the Russian reconciliation center in Hmeymim maintained daily video linkups with the US center in Amman, Jordan, and reiterated his assertion that a joint 24-hour Russian-US rapid response center was due to start operating by Thursday.

"The track that demanded urgent action, which is associated with the cessation of hostilities, yields results. No one expected that the level of violence would decrease that much. We are satisfied with the joint work of the Russian and US militaries," Lavrov said.

The cessation of hostilities, negotiated with the help of the United States and Russia, has been in place in parts of Syria since late February. A new truce was hammered out last Friday for Damascus and the northern Latakia province.

Earlier in the day, the head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation said that the Russian military in Syria and their US colleagues have found an effective mechanism for ceasefire.