Russia, US gradually find common voice in Aleppo, Syria

(Baonghean.vn) - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on August 15 that Russia and the US are about to move towards joint military actions against rebel forces in Aleppo, Syria.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Photo: Reuters.

Mr Shoigu's comments come as clashes for control of Aleppo have intensified in recent weeks and rebel groups fighting Syrian government forces are making slight gains.

According to experts, Mr. Shoigu's statement is relatively surprising because Russia and the US are having disagreements when participating in negotiations to find a political solution in Syria.

At talks on Syria, Russia has shown support for President Assad in the five-year civil war in Syria, while the US wants to remove him from office.

"Russia and the United States are moving closer to a plan in Aleppo that would allow the two countries to fight together to bring peace to this troubled region," Shoigu was quoted by RIA news agency as saying.

Mr Shoigu also said that there were about 700,000 civilians still living in Aleppo and that people living in the east of the city were "hostages of armed groups".

Earlier, in the early morning of August 15, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the Syrian rebel group had requested a temporary ceasefire around Aleppo to regroup.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov also expressed that Iran, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia should participate more actively in resolving the Syrian crisis.

"All sides should sit down and negotiate to resolve current issues," Bogdanov said ahead of a meeting with representatives of the Syrian opposition in the Qatari capital Doha on August 16.

Thanh Hien

(According to Reuters)