Germany, Russia meet on war in Syria, Ukraine conflict

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Monday to discuss the conflict in Ukraine and the ongoing war in Syria, CNN reported.

Germany’s top diplomat criticized Russia’s so-called daily three-hour cease-fires in the Syrian city of Aleppo.  He said they are not enough to alleviate the current humanitarian crisis in the city.  

Lavrov pointed out that earlier short-term truces had only helped terrorists replenish munitions and ranks.

On Monday, Russia begins naval exercises in the eastern Mediterranean Sea off the Syrian coast, KCTV 5 News reported.

On Monday, UPI reported an aide for Chancellor Angela Merkel as saying that “a decision by Russia to suspend military operations for 3 hours each day is not enough.”