Upcoming Russia-US Talks Crucial for Restoring Syrian Peace

The talks between Russia and the UN on the Syria are crutial for its' settlement.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The talks between Russia and the United States scheduled to be held later this week to cover the issues of Syrian settlement are crucial for the cessation of hostilities to be restored on the territory of the conflict-torn country, a spokeswoman for UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said Tuesday.

Last week, after marathon talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the Syrian crisis, US State Secretary John Kerry said that Russian and US military experts would hold consultations in the upcoming days in Geneva to discuss issues concerning the Syrian settlement.

"Discussions between the Russian Federation and the United States this week are crucial to efforts to restore the cessation of hostilities," Jessy Chahine-Mankouche said in a statement released to journalists.

According to Chahine-Mankouche, de Mistura still supports the idea that a 48-hour humanitarian ceasefire in Aleppo is essential for the delivery of humanitarian aid to the local population.

"Discussions are ongoing between the Americans, the Russians and everyone involved. No one has rejected the urgency of a humanitarian pause," the spokeswoman added.

On August 18, the Russian Defense Ministry welcomed de Mistura's proposal for a 48-hour pause in fighting in Aleppo and expressed readiness to implement the first 48-hour humanitarian pause to supply the city with aid as a "pilot project."