Any ceasefire in Syria must apply to rebel groups as well as to the government, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday. “There must not be a situation where the regime’s forces are asked to leave the cities, and the armed groups are not. A one-sided retreat by government forces it completely unrealistic,” he said.
Lavrov also questioned the chances of reaching a two-way deal. “Of course it’s possible to negotiate with Damascus, but it’s not clear who can negotiate on behalf of the armed groups,” he said.