Russia, France, Germany leaders urge 'information exchange' on Syria
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A bandaged Syrian child cries as he sits in a clinic in the town of Douma in Eastern Ghouta
The Russian, French and German leaders have agreed to speed up their "exchange of information" on Syria, the Kremlin says.
In a statement on Sunday, the Kremlin added that Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the Syrian crisis with French and German leaders, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel, respectively.
During phone talks, the three leaders discussed the implementation of a United Nations Security Council resolution on a month-long ceasefire in the war-torn country, it noted.
According to the statement, Putin, Macron and Merkel stressed "the importance of continuing common efforts in the interests of the full implementation of the resolution as soon as possible."
The UN Security Council on Saturday unanimously voted in favor of a resolution demanding a 30-day truce in Syria 'without delay' to allow aid access and medical evacuations.
The Kremlin said the German, Russian and French leaders "had expressed satisfaction" that the Security Council had managed to agree on the resolution following "common constructive work."
Putin informed Macron and Merkel of steps Russia is taking to evacuate civilians and deliver humanitarian aid to those in need, it added.
"Special attention has been paid to the fact that a ceasefire does not cover operations against terrorist groups," the statement said.
Iran's Arabic-language Al-Alam news channel reported the recapture of the Nashabeya and Hazrma areas as well as Farzat Hill by the Syrian military.
Merkel's office also said in a statement on Sunday that the German chancellor and French and Russian presidents stressed "that it is crucial that the [Security Council] resolution be implemented quickly and comprehensively."
Russia has been lending aerial support to Syria’s counter-terrorism operations since September 2015.
Meanwhile, the US and its allies have been bombarding what they call Daesh positions inside Syria since September 2014 without any authorization from the Damascus government or a UN mandate.
The strikes, however, have on many occasions resulted in civilian casualties and failed to fulfill their declared aim of countering terrorism.
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