© REUTERS/ Alaa al-Faqir
"We are looking to this area in southwestern Syria, where there is a ceasefire that is holding right now. We are now four days in to it, I believe. I hope we can build upon that and broaden that out to other parts of the country," Nauert stated.
Earlier on Thursday, President Donald Trump noted in a press conference held in France that the United States and Russia are currently working on the second ceasefire agreement in Syria. Trump stressed that a ceasefire in the southwestern Syria was achieved as a result of the communications with Russia during the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany last week.
Trump then said that several other ceasefires are in the works in other parts of Syria and implied that it is through Russia-US cooperation that one could someday witness a Syria where "no bullets are fired".
The US-led coalition against the Islamic State terrorist group (outlawed in Russia) is encouraged by the recent conflict de-escalation efforts achieved with Russia, US special presidential envoy Brett McGurk stated during the coalition meeting on Thursday.
"We are working very hard with Russians and we are fairly encouraged by what's going on there," McGurk said, referring to the achieved ceasefire in southwestern Syria.
McGurk added that Syria presents a far more complex challenge to the coalition than Iraq because they do not have contacts with the government in Damascus.
Recent de-escalation efforts have been a welcome development, McGurk said.
The ceasefire in southwestern Syria entered into force at noon local time on Sunday. The United States and Russia have agreed to remain committed to ensuring the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.
Trump has previously noted that he was satisfied overall with the results of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 event, especially with respect to the Syria issue.
Comment: Also read this analysis: Syria summary: Will the Trump-Putin agreement hold?