Step Forward: Gorbachev Praises Russia-US Deal on Syrian Ceasefire

The deal on the Syrian ceasefire worked out by Russia and the United States is an important step toward boosting ties between Moscow and Washington, Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev said Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — 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.

Russia and the US agreed to to share information to effectively delineate territory occupied by terrorist groups like Daesh and al-Nusra Front, who are excluded from the Syrian cessation of hostilities.

"I think this is a useful step in the right direction," Gorbachev told RIA Novosti, adding that he expected other steps toward enhancing Russia-US bilateral cooperation to follow.

Relations between Russia and the United States deteriorated amid a 2014 crisis in Ukraine. Washington and its allies have introduced several rounds of anti-Russia sanctions, accusing Moscow of meddling in the Ukrainian internal conflict. The claims have been repeatedly denied by the Kremlin.

Mikhail Gorbachev was the first and last president of the Soviet Union. He announced his resignation in December 1991, after 11 of the former Soviet republics had established the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), effectively dismantling the USSR.