The Russian side has made a proposal to begin a ceasefire in Syria on March 1, but Western officials said no agreement has been reached on the offer.
The source added that Washington has concerns about some elements of the Russian proposal, RBC reports with reference to Reuters.
However, US Department of State spokesperson Mark Toner said at a briefing that he does not know exact dates of the Russian initiative. "I think our preference would be for an immediate ceasefire," RIA Novosti cited him as saying.
The political scientist and orientalist Vyacheslav Matuzov said in an interview with a correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza that it is suggested that this proposal can become a part "of the treatment, which was prepared by the Russian Foreign Ministry, for the meeting which will take place in Munich today."
"The fire must be stopped, it is clear to everyone now: the US, Russia, Turkey and Arab countries, but each side sees its own way to achieve this goal," the expert believes.
"The specific terms of the beginning of a ceasefire, I think, will be agreed during the meeting between the Damascus delegation and the opposition, which will be held in Geneva. However, the main role in the ceasefire will, of course, be played by the Syrian forces. The Russian proposal will be considered by the Syrians, and the degree of readiness of the parties which will participate in the negotiations will determine the date of its implementation," he said.
The expert pointed to the complexities. "I admit that the Syrian army can stop military actions and Russia can stop its military operation, but we don't know how it will be perceived by the other side, if tomorrow Bashar al-Assad makes a decision to cease hostilities on March 1, the Syrian army will do it. But who will decide on the other side? It's a mass of mutually independent groups which do not have a total command. Secondly, I do not see any sign there of readiness for a ceasefire or even the negotiating process. These organizations leave for Geneva to achieve their goal – the transfer of powers to their hands," the political scientist noted.
However, despite this, he is still optimistic about the future. "The US is adequate now. As soon as Russia showed its willingness to protect Syria, we saw that the Americans immediately changed their policy. So, I think, it inspires hope that an agreement on a ceasefire will be reached," Vyacheslav Matuzov concluded.
A senior research fellow of the Institute for Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladimir Sazhin, also noted that 'the issue of a ceasefire is rather difficult, as there are too many players on the Syrian field."
"Regarding the terms of the beginning of a ceasefire, it should be noted that everyone recognizes that in recent years the government forces of Bashar al-Assad with the support of the Russian aircraft and the military forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran are achieving great success. Therefore, Moscow's proposal to begin a ceasefire in Syria in March allows the government troops and their allies to perform tasks set by the command in a 20-day period," he said.
"As for the Americans, it is clear that they want to begin a ceasefire as soon as possible to prevent Assad's forces from winning," the orientalist added.
The expert questioned the assertion that "if everyone agrees to begin a ceasefire on March 1, all the parties of the conflict will do it." "Daesh and Dzhebhat al-Nusra won't stop firing, therefore those who fight for them will not stop firing either," Vladimir Sazhin concluded.
