Putin and Obama Agree to Collaborate on Implementing Munich Agreement

On Sunday, February 14, the Russian government announced that the presidents of Russia and the United States agreed during a phone call to enhance their diplomatic cooperation and other collaborations to implement the Munich Agreement regarding Syria. The countries that are part of the International Support Group for Syria reached an agreement early on Friday, February 12, in Munich, Germany, on a plan to establish a ceasefire and deliver humanitarian aid to cities and areas besieged in Syria. The members of this group agreed to establish a nationwide ceasefire in Syria within a week. According to Reuters, in the phone conversation on Sunday between Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, and his American counterpart Barack Obama, both sides had a 'positive assessment' of the Munich meeting. The Russian government stated that the two presidents particularly emphasized support for the establishment of a ceasefire and strengthening humanitarian aid in Syria. The Russian government also reported that in this conversation, both sides stressed the need for close contacts between the defense ministries of the two countries for a 'successful fight against the Islamic State and other terrorist organizations.' The Kremlin also reported that Putin discussed the formation of a united front against terrorism with Barack Obama during this phone call. The future of Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, and agreement on a 'terrorist list' of groups involved in the Syrian battles were among the issues discussed between Russia and the United States. In this context, the negotiations between Kerry and Lavrov regarding the establishment of a ceasefire and humanitarian aid in Syria, the international agreement on a nationwide ceasefire in Syria, Medvedev's criticism of the potential ground intervention of other countries in Syria, and Adel al-Jubeir's statement that Russia would not succeed in saving Bashar al-Assad were also mentioned.