"The United States and Russia certainly have unresolved differences on a number of issues, but we have the potential to appropriately coordinate in Syria in order to produce stability and serve our mutual security interests," Tillerson stated on Wednesday.At the same time, the Secretary of State urged forces of the Syrian government and the US-led Coalition against the Daesh terror group (banned in Russia) to accept agreed de-escalation boundaries to avoid conflict, the State Department said in a statement.
"The United States is prepared to explore the possibility of establishing with Russia joint mechanisms for ensuring stability, including no-fly zones, on the ground ceasefire observers, and coordinated delivery of humanitarian assistance," Tillerson said.
"We call upon all parties, including the Syrian government and its allies, Syrian opposition forces, and Coalition forces carrying out the battle to defeat [Daesh], to avoid conflict with one another and adhere to agreed geographical boundaries for military de-confliction and protocols for de-escalation," the statement said on Wednesday.Earlier in the day, the State Department said leaders of the 72-member Global Coalition to Defeat IS will hold in-depth talks on Wednesday on how to accelerate the effort to defeat the Islamic State in the few areas it still holds in Iraq and Syria, as well as maximize global pressure on its branches, affiliates and networks.
The senior State Department official said all parties to the agreement "have asked for a U.S. interlocutor that they can work with - some sort of Minsk coordinator or envoy ... and we are actively considering that."The Minsk agreement was brokered by France and Germany and signed by Russia and Ukraine in early 2015. It calls for a cease-fire, the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the front line, and constitutional reform to give eastern Ukraine more autonomy.
For the years 2017 - 2018, UK financial obligations for the assistance to Ukraine is 40 million pounds. This was reported today by the British Ambassador to Ukraine, Judith Gough.There's 'no money' for emergency sectors workers, 'no money' for safe housing, but there's millions for war and oligarchs.
"The ending of the March 2017-18 fiscal year, our commitment is about 40 million pounds, "- she said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
According to her, this amount includes technical assistance in carrying out reforms, humanitarian aid and military training, which aims to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
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