MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia will unilaterally control the Syria ceasefire starting March 22 if Washington fails to respond to Moscow's proposal on a joint control mechanism, the Russian General Staff said Monday.
"In case of the absence of a US response to these proposals, the Russian Federation will begin unilaterally applying the rules stipulated in the agreement starting March 22," Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoi, head of the General Staff's Main Operational Directorate, said.
He underlined that military force would only be used in case reliable evidence proved systematic violations of the Syria ceasefire deal by armed groups.
Last month, Russia and the United States reached an agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Syria, which took effect on February 27. The truce excluded the terrorist groups Daesh and the Nusra Front, both of which are outlawed in Russia.
