"The dialogue is ongoing. On October 16, Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov was there, and he met with European External Action Service Secretary General Helga Schmid … Besides, Federica Mogherini regularly calls [Russian Foreign Minister Sergey] Lavrov, asks questions, he answers her," Chizhov told RIA Novosti, answering a question on whether Russia clarifies its position on Syria to the European Union.
On October 20, the EU leaders strongly condemned attacks on civilians in Aleppo allegedly committed by the Syrian forces and Russia. Moscow and Damascus have repeatedly insisted that strikes were only conducted against the Daesh militants, outlawed in Russia and a number of other states.
On the same day, the humanitarian pause was introduced in the embattled city of Aleppo to ensure the safe evacuation of unarmed militants, and civilians from eastern Aleppo via eight designated corridors. However, Nusra Front, recently renamed as Jabhat Fatah al Sham, prevented civilians who wanted to flee the city, attacking people, during their attempts to leave Aleppo.
