MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Over the recent months, Aleppo has been a major battleground in Syria, engaging government forces, jihadists, and numerous opposition groups. Eastern Aleppo is currently encircled by government forces, and the fighting has affected thousands of civilians still trapped in the city. Internationally mediated ceasefires have collapsed as militants continued attacks and opposition failed to expel terrorists from the city.
"Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with US Secretary of State John Kerry in the morning of December 8 on the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial Council's meeting in Hamburg in development of contacts that took place the day before. In the evening, they held a phone conversation," the statement said.
"The Russian and US foreign policy chiefs continued discussing the settlement of the conflict in Syria, including ways to normalize the situation in the eastern parts of Aleppo. With account for the US side's announced readiness to contribute to the pullout of militants from the city, the sides agreed to consider the practical details of the process at the expert level soon."
