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Spokesman: US, Russia commit to further Syrian aid

US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov "recommitted" themselves to continued deliveries of aid to those affected by the war in Syria, US State Department spokesman John Kirby said.

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Michael Dalder/Reuters/File
US Secretary of State John Kerry delivers a speech at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, February 13, 2016. Kerry spoke to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Saturday and the two "recommitted" themselves to continued deliveries of aid to those affected by the war in Syria, US State Department spokesman John Kirby said.
  • By Staff Reuters

US Secretary of State John Kerry spoke to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Saturday and the two "recommitted" themselves to continued deliveries of aid to those affected by the war in Syria, U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said.

They also discussed the progress negotiators in Geneva are making toward developing "modalities" toward a cessation of hostilities.

"Those modalities are not yet fully agreed upon, but both ministers appreciated the scope and attention to detail task force members applied in drafting them," Kirby said.

"The Secretary expressed his hope that a full cessation of hostilities could be achieved in the shortest timeframe possible," he said.

Kerry also told Lavrov Washington is deeply concerned about Russia's continued bombing of civilian targets, Kirby said in a statement.

Western powers in the United Nations Security Council on Friday turned down a Russian draft resolution calling for an immediate end to cross-border shellings and plans – supported by Turkey – for foreign ground intervention in Syria, according to France 24. Russia on Saturday expressed regret that its bid to halt Turkey's military actions against Syria was turned down, and vowed to continue supporting government forces against "terrorists."

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