The Russian Foreign Ministry's chief spokeswoman said that as a result of Russia's military action in Syria "the negotiating process has begun and a cease-fire on Syrian territory has begun."
Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told RFE/RL's Russian Service on March 25 that Russia always intended for its military action in Syria to be limited and that Moscow did not intend to interfere in the civil war there.
Zakharova also stressed Moscow's contention that Russia is not a party to the conflict in eastern Ukraine, a position she said is confirmed in the Minsk agreements on regulating that conflict.
She said the Minsk process has been stalled by Kyiv. "Kyiv refuses to enter into a dialogue with the Donbas," Zakharova said. "Fulfilling the Minsk agreements is hung up on this point."