Russian-backed Syria talks derailed as rebels boycott
Turkey backs boycotting rebel groups, who claim continued Russian aggression in western areas of the country
Moscow/Astana — Russian-led peace talks on Syria were derailed on Tuesday as rebels backed by Turkey boycotted a third round of meetings in Kazakhstan and the Kremlin indicated there were international divisions. Russia, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s most powerful ally, said the rebels’ reasons for staying away were unconvincing and their decision came as a surprise. Describing the rebels as Turkish proxies, the Syrian government envoy said Ankara had broken "its commitments" to the Astana process. The rebels said they would not attend the talks, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, because of what they called Russia’s unwillingness to end air strikes on rebel-held areas and its failure to get the Syrian army and Iranian-backed militia to abide by a ceasefire. Russia has sought to revive diplomacy since its air force helped government forces defeat rebels in eastern Aleppo in December — Assad’s biggest victory of the war. The co-operation of Turkey, one of the main backers of r...
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