US welcomes Russia's engagement in Syria: Kerry
US Secretary of State John Kerry has welcomed Russia’s efforts in bringing peace to Syria, acknowledging that Moscow can play an “extremely constructive” role in the process.
Briefing reporters after a joint meeting with foreign ministers of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members in Brussels, Belgium, on Wednesday, Kerry underscored Russia’s potential in putting an end to ISIL’s reign of terror over large parts of Syria and bringing peace to the Arab country.
Russia has been carrying out an aerial campaign against Daesh (ISIL) positions in Syria since late September, at the request of President Bashar al-Assad’s government.
"We welcome Russia's engagement in the Syria process. As long as they're focused on Daesh and as long they are genuine in wanting to be part of implementing the Geneva (accords), they can be an extremely constructive and important player in reaching a solution," Kerry stated.
“I think the world would welcome that kind of cooperative effort," he added.
Kerry’s statements mark a dramatic turn in his stance in regards to Russia’s role in Syria.
In the wake of Moscow’s airstrikes, Kerry had warned his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov about the escalation of the years-long conflict in Syria.
‘Russia must reconsider Ukraine policies’
One Wednesday, Kerry also had a “productive meeting” with his Ukrainian counterpart Pavlo Klimkin on the sidelines of the NATO gathering.
The two diplomats discussed the ongoing conflict between the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian forces in the country’s eastern regions, which has prompted America and its European allies to place a regime of sanctions against Russia.
“[If] Moscow wants relief from sanctions, it’s there for the getting…implement Minsk [agreement] and this can be achieved,” Kerry said.
The Minsk agreement, reached between the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France, and Germany in February, calls for a ceasefire, the pullout of heavy weaponry from border areas, and constitutional reforms in Ukraine by the end of 2015.
Kerry urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to withdraw “heavy weapons” from Ukraine's borders and “remove all foreign fighters, release all hostages and give Ukraine control over of its border.”
Moscow has denied any involvement in causing the crisis, saying the sanctions will not change its stance on its neighbor.
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