Russia’s President Vladimir Putin attends a session of the board of the Federal Security Service (FSB) in Moscow (AP)

The Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the ceasefire agreement in Syria is in preparation of the political process in Syria and pointed out that “there is no third way except for a political solution and dialogue”. On the other hand, his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference which was also attended by the UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and the Secretary General of the Arab League Nabil Al-Arabi, that the success of the ceasefire depends on a number of factors, some of which are linked to external players.

Putin told senior commanders and officers of the Russian Federal Security Service that the aim of the ceasefire agreement in Syria is to create opportunities for a political solution. He emphasised the need to create the right conditions for the successful implementation of the agreement with the aim of launching dialogue between Syrians later on. As for the war on terrorism, it will continue during and after the truce according to Putin who confirmed that Russian forces will continue overflights in Syria and the bombing of sites where ISIS and Al-Nusra Front are located. Putin added that the operations carried out by Russian aircraft, government forces and international coalition forces in Syria will not target groups that join the ceasefire.

Putin said that the agreement calls on all warring parties wishing to join the ceasefire program to inform Russia or the United States of this desire before midnight on Friday the 26th of February. He stressed that the Russian troops had received requests from groups in Syria expressing their desire and willingness to commit to a ceasefire.