Russian President Vladimir Putin
(VOVworld) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared the withdrawal of a majority of Russian troops from Syria. Speaking at a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Monday, President Putin said that the withdrawal, starting on Tuesday, would be a positive incentive for negotiations among political forces in Syria. He said the Russian force remaining in Syria will participate in supervising the truce.
The same day, US President Barack Obama talked by phone with Putin and urged him to put pressure on President Bashar Assad not to break the truce.

Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said Russia will withdraw its task force from Syria but will maintain a military presence there.

The US government announced on Monday that IS leader Omar al-Shishani has died after being injured in American air strikes on March 4th.