Kremlin: Russia, US joint statement aims to stop bloodshed in Syria

MOSCOW, February 24. /TASS/. The main aim of the joint statement adopted by Russia and the United States on Monday aims to stop bloodshed in Syria, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. The presidential spokesman thus replied to a question about whether such joint actions would lead to positive shifts in relations between Russia and the United States. "Let me remind you once again that the president has said in his message that Russia intends to work closely with Damascus and the legitimate authorities of Syria but expects our American partners to cover their part of the way and use their influence with regard to those groupings, which they support," the Kremlin spokesman said. "At the same time, the basic goal is to stop the bloodshed in Syria and thus create the conditions for reaching a political settlement. This is the main goal," Peskov said. Active diplomatic work is currently under way, the Kremlin spokesman said. "Very intensive contacts are being held because the countries [Russia and the United States] will now use all their influence on particular forces, groupings and sides in this conflict," the spokesman said. Such interaction between Moscow and Washington has a positive effect on both countries to reach mutual understanding, the Kremlin spokesman said. "No doubt, this interaction helps to one degree or another to raise the level of mutual trust," Peskov said. "Despite all the disagreements, the manifestation of certain political or other will sometimes allows Moscow and Washington after all to reach very important results as was the case, for example, with chemical weapons in Syria," the Kremlin spokesman said. "Let us not forget that the precedents of such productive interaction were already registered in the recent past," Peskov said. Read more