The top diplomats for Russia and the United States say they have “recommitted” themselves to continue aid deliveries to areas affected by the war in Syria.
In a telephone call February 20, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also discussed the progress that negotiators in Geneva are making toward “modalities” for a cessation of violence in Syria.
The State Department and the Russian Foreign Ministry released statements confirming the call.
The two spoke a day after a cease-fire was supposed to take effect in Syria, but passed with fighting continuing.
State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Kerry told Lavrov Washington was deeply concerned about Russia's continued bombing of civilian targets.
The Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, said Lavrov raised the issue of Turkey's cross-border shelling of a Kurdish militia in Syria.
Turkey is a U.S. ally and NATO member.
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