Pentagon hopes Russian group's withdrawal from Syria will help reduce violence, facilitate talks in Geneva
WASHINGTON. March 17 (Interfax) - The Pentagon will welcome the withdrawal of a substantial part of the Russian military group from Syria if this measure helps reduce violence in the region and if it facilitates the negotiations in Geneva, Pentagon spokesperson Michelle Baldanza told Interfax on Wednesday.
Baldanza noted that if the armed forces withdrawal announced by Russia actually takes place, helps secure a sustainable decrease in violence and facilitates the talks in Geneva, the Pentagon will welcome it. Hopefully, the reduction of the Russian group will help bolster and strengthen respect towards the truce agreement, she said.
The Pentagon spokesperson also added that the withdrawal of the Russian Armed Forces group has just begun, and the past two days have seen a considerable reduction of violence and a decrease in the number of attacks on civilians in Syria, and the truce is generally holding in Syria.
Washington would like to see additional steps that would help deescalate violence in the region and would make the political process more viable, she said.
