Kerry dubbed the deal a “turning point”, according to media reports, and said that along with Russia he hoped it would “reduce violence, ease suffering and resume movement towards a negotiated peace and a political transition in Syria”.
He also called on Syrians to support the deal that aims to “bring this catastrophic conflict to the quickest possible end through a political process”.
All attacks and airstrikes would be stopped and unobstructed access allowed to besieged areas, including the northern city of Aleppo, Kerry said. Both sides had agreed to pull back from Castello Road in Aleppo to create a demilitarized zone that would allow access, he added.
Daesh and al-Nusra are not included in the deal as both are listed as terror groups by the UN Security Council.
Lavrov said the two countries agreed on five documents related to fighting terrorism and a truce in Syria.
The UN issued a statement shortly after the deal was announced saying it “welcomes the understanding” on the cessation of hostilities.
“The United Nations hopes that the political will that led to this understanding is sustained,” the statement said. “It creates a real window of opportunity which all relevant actors in the region and beyond should seize to put the crisis in Syria on a different path and ease the violence and suffering being endured by the Syrian people.”
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