UK Foreign Office Aware of Russia’s Decision to Withdraw Troops From Syria

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is aware of Russia's decision to withdraw its air group from Syria, does not have an official statement at the moment, according to a FCO press officer.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is aware of Russia's decision to withdraw its air group from Syria, a FCO press officer told Sputnik on Monday.

"Yes [we are aware], but we do not have an official statement at the moment," the press officer said.

Earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to start withdrawing the Russian air group from Syria on Tuesday, as the task assigned to it has been completed.

Since late September 2015, Russia has been conducting airstrikes on positions of terrorist groups in Syria, following a request from President Bashar Assad.

On February 22, Russia and the United States reached an agreement on a ceasefire in Syria. The ceasefire came into force on February 27. It does not apply to the Islamic State or the Nusra Front groups, which are outlawed in a number of countries worldwide including Russia and the United States.