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Conflict in Syria

Putin notes Obama’s constructive position on Syria truce

The president also said he hopes that the visit by US Secretary of State John Kerry will help the United States and Russia to narrow their differences over Syria and Ukraine

Vladimir Putin and John Kerry Mikhail Metzel/TASS

Vladimir Putin and John Kerry

© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

MOSCOW, March 24. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has pointed to the constructive stance of US President Barack Obama on establishing the truce in Syria.

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"We realize that what we have managed to do in the Syrian direction could only be achieved thanks to the stance of the top US political leadership, the stance of President Obama," Putin said at a meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry.

A ceasefire regime has been in force in Syria since February 27. The Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra groups (both banned in Russia) as well as other armed formations, which the U.N. Security Council has recognized to be terrorist, have been excluded from the ceasefire.

The president also said he hopes that the visit by US Secretary of State John Kerry will help the United States and Russia to narrow their differences over Syria and Ukraine.

"I do hope that your visit will help us to dovetail our positions on the Syrian and Ukrainian problems," Putin said at the meeting with Kerry after the latter’s talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

"We always look forward to your visits, because they always take place in the businesslike atmosphere and give an opportunity to make some progress in resolving serious issues," he added.

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Foreign policy Syrian conflict

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