Russian, Austrian leaders discuss situation in Syria after US-led airstrikes

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Austria’s Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz spoke by phone on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Syria, which has been aggravated by US, British and French missile strikes, according to the Kremlin press service. The leaders noted the primary importance of providing humanitarian aid to the Syrian people and their readiness to facilitate the resumption of the inter-Syrian negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations. Putin and Kurz also touched upon the implementation of agreements reached at the talks between them on February 28 in Moscow, as well as preparations for marking the 50th anniversary of the beginning of deliveries of natural gas from Russia to Austria. Earlier this month, speaking at a ceremony of presenting credentials by foreign ambassadors, Putin said that Russia highly appreciates Austria’s balanced stance on pressing international issues.