Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed on Monday that the US military presence in Syria is illegal and contrary to the UN Charter.

During a joint press conference with his Bangladeshi counterpart Abul Hassan Mahmud Ali in Moscow, Lavrov expressed his country’s hope that US President Donald Trump’s statements regarding the withdrawal of his troops from Syria would be a prelude to Washington’s commitment to its previous promises that the presence of its forces in Syria is linked to the defeat of Daesh (ISIS) terrorist organization.

Bogdanov discusses with Syrian Ambassador to Russia crisis in Syria, particularly political settlement

in a different context, Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov discussed with Syrian Ambassador in Moscow Riyad Haddad the developments related to the crisis in Syria, particularly the political settlement.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday that the meeting dealt with the latest developments of the political and military situation in Syria, including the political settlement on the basis of the UNSC Resolution No. 2254, taking into consideration the outcomes of the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi.

The Ministry added that the two sides stressed importance of the efforts exerted by the Syrian side in coordination with the Russian officers to guarantee security in Eastern Ghouta area.