Russia’s Diplomacy Paved the Way for Ceasefire in Syria – Foreign Ministry

The world’s geopolitical environment is changing a large extent due to Russia’s diplomacy in combination with the efforts of the country’s Aerospace Forces, according to a spokesperson for the Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova.

"Things won't be done in the same way," Zakharova said during the broadcast of "Voskresny Vecher" (Sunday Evening) TV show on the national news channel Rossiya 1, while commenting on the two-day visit by US State Secretary John Kerry to Moscow for negotiations with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin.

Zakharova noted that positive change was triggered by the efficiency of Russia's diplomacy and Air Force. She had given similar comments previously, after Italy's Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Paolo Gentiloni, called a month-long ceasefire in Syria "a miracle."

"There will be no more military operation mandates knowing that the countries will not account for their actions," Zakharova stated.

"There will be no more silent approval of interference in internal affairs of states; no watching apathetically and playing along; no voting for resolutions that let one party off the leash and change geostrategic and geopolitical landscape in a certain region. No more of that. This formula was listened to, accepted and applied".

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with forces loyal to President Bashar Assad's government fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups.

On February 22, Russia and the United States reached an agreement on a ceasefire in Syria, which took effect on February 27.

Earlier on Sunday, the Syrian Army together with the Desert Falcons fully liberated the ancient city of Palmyra from Daesh militants. Syrian President Bashar Assad said in a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin that it would be impossible without Russia's contribution.