U.S. Secretary of state John Kerry will visit Moscow next week to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He announced Tuesday, reports Reuters. The purpose of the visit will be discussion of further settlement of the conflict in Syria, he explained.
Kerry also stressed that the withdrawal of Russian forces peace was probably the best opportunity to end the conflict in Syria.
The day before, on Monday, Vladimir Putin at a meeting with the heads of the Ministers of defense and foreign Ministers Sergei Shoigu and Sergei Lavrov ordered the withdrawal of the main forces of Russia from Syria since 15 March. “I think the tasks set before the Ministry of defence. Therefore, I order you tomorrow to start the withdrawal of the main part of our military groups of the Syrian Arab Republic”, — said Putin.
The President noted that the bases of the Russian armed forces in the port of Tartus and at the airbase Hamim “will operate in the former regime, they should be protected from land, sea and air”. Later, the press Secretary of the head of state, Dmitry Peskov confirmed that these two objects will play a role in monitoring the ceasefire.
On the night of Tuesday, Putin discussed the withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria with President Barack Obama. As mentioned in the message of the Kremlin, the Russian President informed the us leader about the reasons for his decision. As Putin said, Russian aircraft in Syria has completed the “basic objectives” to combat international terrorism.
The U.S. President welcomed the reduction in violence in Syria after the entry into force of the cease-fire, said, in turn, the White house.
On Tuesday morning, first aviation group, composed of the Tu-154 and su-34, have left Syria.
