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EU foreign service: Withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria to contribute to deescalation

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Nikolay Pankov said that Russian forces will continue delivering airstrikes at terrorists in Syria

BRUSSELS, March 15. /TASS/. Russia’s decision to withdraw main part of the Russian aviation task force from Syria will help achieve deescalation of violence in the country, spokeswoman for EU’s foreign service Catherina Ray told a press conference on Tuesday.

"Any steps that help achieve deescalation of violence inside Syria and the prolongation of the cessation of hostilities is very important for the overall peace process. This decision should be seen in this context," she said.

The Kremlin press service released a statement on Monday evening that the Russian and Syrian presidents, Vladimir Putin and Bashar Assad, agreed to start withdrawing the main part of the Russian aviation task force from Syria because the Russian Aerospace Forces had fulfilled the fundamental tasks which had been assigned to them.

Russia will leave an air flight control center in the Syrian territory that will monitor the observation of the Syrian ceasefire, the Kremlin said. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu ordered starting the Russian troops’ withdrawal as of March 15. Earlier today Russian Deputy Defense Minister Nikolay Pankov said that Russian forces will continue delivering airstrikes at terrorists in Syria.