Putin, Obama discuss Syrian peace, ISIL
July 7, 2016, 4:51 am

File photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Barack Obama in Beijing [Xinhua]

Putin initiated the call on Wednesday, said the Kremlin.

Both sides also “emphasised the importance of resuming inter-Syrian negotiations under the aegis of the UN to achieve a a political settlement,” the statement said.

Putin reiterated that the US must encourage moderate Syrian rebels to disengage quickly from the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front.

“Putin urged Barack Obama to facilitate as quickly as possible the separation of moderate Syrian opposition forces from the terrorist group Jabhat al-Nusra and other extremists that are not covered by the ceasefire regime,” it added.

ISIL and the Nusra Front are not included in the UN-backed truce process in Syria.

Obama, on the other hand, emphasized his concerns over what the US charges is the “failure” of the Syrian government to comply with the cessation of hostilities.

“President Obama stressed the importance of Russia pressing the Syrian regime for a lasting halt to offensive attacks against civilians and parties to the Cessation, noting the importance of fully recommitting to the original terms of the Cessation,” the White House said.

Moscow has not yet officially commented on media reports of a US proposal that would see Russian and US air forces conduct joint strikes against Al-Nusra Front, an Al-Qaeda off-shoot in Syria.

The US-led coalition and Russia are carrying out rival bombing campaigns to destroy the Islamic State group in Syria.

The militant group has managed to still hold vast swathes of territory and repel the advances of both the US-trained rebel forces and the Syrian army in the eastern parts of the country.

Obama and Putin also discussed the Ukraine crisis on Wednesday.

Putin stressed on “the start of a real direct dialogue with Donetsk and Lugansk, amnesty, special status for the DPR and the LPR and the joint elaboration of a law on local elections”.

TBP and Agencies