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Syrian Agreement Makes Russia a 'Power to be Reckoned With' in Middle East

© Sputnik / Dmitriy Vinogradov / Go to the mediabankRussian military aviation at Khmeimim airbase in Syria
Russian military aviation at Khmeimim airbase in Syria - Sputnik International
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Russia and the United States have reached a compromise regarding the Syrian crisis. Now, it is time for Moscow to use its influence to guarantee the ceasefire, an article in The Financial Times read.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) speaks to US Secretary of State John Kerry ahead a joint press conference in Vienna, Austria, on May 17, 2016 - Sputnik International
Lavrov Reiterates Call to Make Syria Deal Public in Phone Talks With Kerry
If rebel forces and the Syrian Army observe the ceasefire humanitarian organizations will be able to deliver aid to areas that have been besieged and attacked from the air. On this front, the situation is still difficult, according to the article.

For example, it was reported that both opposition and government forces on Wednesday were holding up convoys driving to the city of Aleppo.

As part of the deal, Washington is pressuring Syrian rebels to separate themselves from terrorists before planned airstrikes. However, rebel forces are skeptical of the idea.

Since the beginning of the conflict, the "West has never shown a willingness to back up its support for the opposition with anything like the necessary force," the article read. "Jihadist elements among them have strengthened partly as a result."

Now, the moderate elements of the Syrian opposition are being asked to turn away from their allies to the West. However, Western partners have never been reliable for them.

"In driving the terms of the bargain, Moscow has reasserted its status as a power to be reckoned with in the Middle East," according to the article.

Russian pilots of the Su-34 at the Hmeimim base in Syria. - Sputnik International
Russia's Military, Diplomatic Involvement Paved Way for Syrian Ceasefire
Earlier on Saturday, the Russian General Staff said that the US fails to fulfill its obligations on Syria, adding that Washington will be responsible for the breakdown of the ceasefire if the situation does not change.

"Five days into the truce, we can say that only the Russian and Syrian sides have fulfilled their commitments. The United States and the so-called moderate groups under their control have not fulfilled a single obligation," said Lt. Gen. Viktor Poznikhir, the first deputy chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the Russian General Staff.

View of the Umayyad Mosque, Damascus, Syria - Sputnik International
Russia, US Share Goal of Reaching Peace in Syria, Defeating Terrorism - Putin
According to the Russian military, within the past 24 hours there were 55 episodes of ceasefire violations from the side of Syrian rebel forces. A total of 199 violations have been registered since the ceasefire came into force on Monday.

On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on the reason why Washington is against making public the US-Russian agreement on Syria.

"The only reason why they apparently don’t want to make it public is because the international community, as well as American and Russian public, will immediately find out who is not abiding by the deal," Putin said in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

"We agreed that al-Nusra Front should be distanced from the opposition and that their location should be disclosed as well as that of the so-called healthy [moderate] forces. What do we see instead? We see no separation of terrorists and healthy forces, but rather attempts by terrorists to regroup," he added.

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