CAIRO (Sputnik) – The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces continue to cooperate with Russian servicemen despite coordination of their efforts with the United States, Salih Muslim, the former co-chairman of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), told Sputnik on Tuesday.
"We are cooperating with everyone: the United States, Russia. We are free in our activities. We are coordinating [with Russia] on the ground near [the city of] Afrin and its outskirts and that is good," Muslim said, adding that the forces were also coordinating efforts with the US-led coalition.
"We believe that the Russians can bring peace to the Syrian people, the peaceful resolution of conflict for all nationalities: Kurds, Assyrians and Arabs. Russia is a friend for everyone, that is why, it can play a very positive role, especially in persuading the regime [Syrian government], which still hopes to achieve a military solution," Muslim added.
In late October, Russian President Vladimir Putin put forward an idea to create a congress made up of all ethnic groups in Syria. Putin said that establishing such a congress could be an important step toward reaching a political settlement and creating a new national constitution.
Russia is actively involved in solving the Syrian conflict by engaging in a military operation against terrorist organizations, serving as a mediator in the Astana reconciliation talks and guarantor of the Syrian ceasefire, as well as by providing civilians with humanitarian aid.
