Russia congratulates its military in Syria on Defender of the Fatherland Day
Russia's Defense Minster Sergei Shoigu has congratulated Russian military personnel in Syria on Defender of the Fatherland Day, an annual holiday observed in Russia and several other former Soviet republics on Feb. 23.
Shoigu's comments reflect Moscow's narrative of linking the Russian air campaign in Syria with Russian national security -- and, of course, with Russian patriotism and prestige. The Defense Minister places Russia as the leading power fighting "international terrorism" on the global stage:
"On this Defender of the Fatherland Day you are far from home, at the forefront of the fight against international terrorism," Shoigu said in a video address to Russian military personnel in Syria.
"By carrying out the orders of the Supreme Commander, you are protecting the national interests of our country, and contributing to the achievement of peace on the Syrian soil," Shoigu added.
This ends our live blogging for February 22. Be sure to check back tomorrow for our our continuing coverage.
U.S.-Russia-brokered truce to start this weekend, our news desk reports:
The United States and Russia have announced plans for a cessation of hostilities in Syria that would go into effect at midnight on February 27.
In a joint statement issued on February 22, the two countries said that parties to the five-year-old conflict would indicate their agreement by midday on February 26, Damascus time.
However, the truce does not include the Islamic State group, the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Nusra Front, and other terrorist organizations designated by the UN, and air strikes by Syria, Russia, and a U.S.-led coalition against these groups will continue, the statement said.
The agreement sets up a communications hotline, and calls for a working group to monitor cease-fire violations.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the agreement as a "long-awaited signal of hope," and urged all sides to abide by it.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his U.S. counterpart, Barack Obama, discussed the plan by telephone.
In a statement broadcast on television, Putin called the accord a "real step that can stop the bloodshed" in Syria.
Russia will do "whatever is necessary" to ensure that Damascus respects the cease-fire agreement, Putin said. "We are counting on the United States to do the same with its allies and the groups that it supports."
"The main thing is that conditions have been created for launching a genuine political process through the wide inter-Syrian dialogue in Geneva overseen by the UN," the Russian president also said.
He added that the U.S.-Russia agreements "can be an example of responsible actions, based on the norms of international law and the principles of the UN, against the threat of terrorism."
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow "highly appreciates" the level of interaction of the Russian and U.S. experts in the negotiations of the cease-fire plan.
Russia -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's strongest ally -- and the United States back opposing sides in the Syria war.
The White House said that although it will be difficult to implement, the move presents a "moment of opportunity" and the United States will try to capitalize on it.
"If implemented and adhered to, this cessation will not only lead to a decline in violence, but also continue to expand the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian supplies to besieged areas," U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement.
Turkey also welcomed the cease-fire plan, with Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus expressing hope that Russia "won't fly its jets and kill innocent people" while the combatants negotiate over an end to the conflict.
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the truce will only work if there is a "major change of behavior" by the Damascus regime and its backers.
"Russia, in particular, must honor this agreement by ending its attacks on Syrian civilians and moderate opposition groups," Hammond said.
On February 12, major powers agreed to work toward a "cessation of hostilities" in Syria within a week, but the deadline passed.
Violence has continued in Syria, with more than 140 people killed in bombings in Damascus and Homs on February 21.
More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed in the conflict, which started in March 2011. About 11 million others have been forced from their homes, including 4 million who have fled abroad. (w/ AFP, AP, Reuters, TASS, Interfax)
UN: Major powers feeding 'military escalation' in Syria
U.N. investigators have warned in a new report of a growing risk of "internationalization" of the conflict in Syria, AP reports.
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria says in a new report Monday that the conflict, which soon enters its sixth year, has become "a multi-sided proxy war steered from abroad by an intricate network of alliances."
In a swipe at the United States, Russia and their allies, the investigators say the international powers and regional countries ostensibly pushing for peace are the same nations that "continue to feed the military escalation."
The report also says war crimes are "rampant" and both government forces and the Islamic State extremist group continue to commit crimes against humanity.
Syria opposition says provisional agreement reached on temporary truce: report
Reuters has more on the reports that Syrian opposition coordinator Riad Hijab has said that there has been a provisional agreement on a temporary truce in Syria.
Hijab's comments were reported by the pro-Syrian opposition Orient TV.
Hijab, a former Syrian prime minister who chairs the Saudi-backed opposition High Negotiations Committee , said the agreement would be "according to international guarantees".
The committee was meeting in Saudi Arabia on Monday to discuss a U.S.-Russian plan to bring about a "cessation of hostilities"
Blogs of War, run by John Little, offers this cynical response to the reports of a draft agreement for a Syrian ceasefire to begin Feb. 27.
Provisional agreement on temporary Syria truce: Syrian opposition
Lots of cynicism -- much of it justified -- about the breaking news reports that Russia and the United States have agreed on a Syria ceasefire starting Feb. 27...
David Kenner of Foreign Policy magazine refers to reports that the ceasefire will not apply to the IS group or Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate the Al-Nusra Front. Will Russia continue to bomb rebel groups that it claims are affiliated to Nusra?
ABC's Kirit Radia also wonders whether Damascus -- whose Russian-backed forces have made significant gains over the past weeks -- will go along with the ceasefire. (Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said last week that he intends to regain control over all of Syria.)
Breaking: U.S.-Russia draft calls for Syria ceasefire to start Feb. 27 - Reuters
Reuters is citing Western diplomatic sources as saying that Russia and the United States have agreed a draft proposal calling for a Syrian ceasefire to start on Feb. 27.