Putin: Syrian government, armed opposition reach ceasefire deal

The Syrian government and armed opposition groups have reached an agreement on a ceasefire on Syrian territory and on readiness to start peace talks, Russian President Vladimir Putin said  on December 29, Sputnik reported.

"It was just reported that today a few hours ago an event occurred, which we have not just been waiting for long, but which we worked a lot to make closer. Three documents have been signed," Putin said at a meeting with the foreign and defense ministers.

"The first document signed by the Syrian government and the armed opposition is on the ceasefire in the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic," he said. "The second document is a set of measures to monitor the ceasefire regime and the third document is a statement of readiness to start peace negotiations on the Syrian settlement," Putin said

The president added that the agreements on Syria are fragile, and require special attention and patience, as well as constant contact with partners.

Vladimir Putin  earlier said that Russia and Turkey had agreed to an earlier proposal to bring together representatives of the Syrian regime and opposition in Kazakhstan.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has expressed his "readiness" to provide a platform for talks in Astana to solve the long-standing crisis.

Syria has been locked in a devastating civil war since early 2011. Since then, more than a quarter of a million people have been killed and more than 10 million displaced across the war-torn country, according to the UN.