Agreement between Russia and the US on the cessation of hostilities in Syria gives opportunity and a little bit of time to move forward

       Presidents of the Russian Federation and the United States - Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama - have reached an agreement on the cessation of hostilities in Syria, which is due to come into force at midnight on February 27 after all the parties to the conflict will sign up to it. U.N. spokesman described this agreement as "a first step towards a more durable ceasefire," as the fruit of intensive diplomacy between Washington and Moscow, which back opposing sides in the 5-year-old civil war that has killed more than 250,000 people.

       Executive Director of The Nixon Center and Associate Publisher of The National Interest and expert of the Valdai Discussion Club Paul J. Saunders shared his thoughts on this diplomatic agreement in an rapid-fire interview with www.valdaiclub.com

       Saunders said that situation in Syria is complicated. In this situation ？agreement or some kind of agreement is better than having no agreement？. ？At best agreement gives all of us an opportunity and a little bit of time to move forward？, he pointed out and added that, certainly, it does not guarantee any sort of resolution of this very difficult conflict.

       Views expressed are of individual Members and Contributors, rather than the Club's, unless explicitly stated otherwise.