Obama, Putin discuss Russia's 'partial withdrawal' from Syria

The White House said Presidents Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin have discussed Russia's planned military drawdown in Syria, hours after a shock announcement that signals a new phase in the five-year-old conflict.
"They discussed President Putin's announcement today of a partial withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria and next steps required to fully implement the cessation of hostilities," the White House said in a statement yesterday.
US officials earlier offered a cautious initial assessment of Putin's order to begin withdrawing "the main part of our military contingents from the Syrian Arab Republic" from today.
Putin launched air strikes in September followed by a massive troop deployment, turning the tide of a long and brutal war in Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's favor, rescuing his regime from the brink of collapse.

A recent "cessation of hostilities" has been frequently breached but, Obama said, led to a "much-needed reduction in violence."
The White House sought to turn the screws on Assad, just as his backing from Russia was called into question.

"Continuing offensive actions by Syrian regime forces risk undermining both the Cessation of Hostilities and the UN-led political process," the White House cited Obama as saying.
"The president also noted some progress on humanitarian assistance efforts in Syria but emphasized the need for regime forces to allow unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance delivery to the agreed-upon locations, notably Daraya."
Putin's announcement appeared timed to coincide with peace talks in Geneva that have been dominated by a disagreement over Assad's fate.

Russia has remained steadfast in its public support of Assad, while opposition groups, the United States and key European countries have called on Assad to go as part of a negotiated transition.
Senator John McCain said that Russia's deployment of
nuclear-tipped ground-launched cruise missiles is in violation of theIntermediate-Range Nuclear Forces(INF) Treaty.
"As Vladimir Putin continues his testing of the new administration, Russia's deployment of nuclear-tipped ground-launched cruise missiles in violation of the INF Treaty is a significant military threat to US forces in Europe and our NATO allies," he said.
"Congress has made clear in the last two defence authorisation bills that Russia's treaty violation requires a meaningful response. In light of the most recent developments, it is time for the new administration to take immediate action to enhance our deterrent posture in Europe and protect our allies," McCain said.

Senator Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority leader called for an independentand transparent probe into the resignation of former national security advisor Michael Flynn.
"The White House knew for weeks that General Flynn misled the Vice President and that his discussion about sanctions with the Russian government could potentially compromise our national security, because it was subject to blackmail," he said.
"And yet, they let him stay on for weeks, present at and participating in the highest level of national security discussions until those reports were made public. If an investigation is not independent, nonpartisan, and most of all transparent, there is no guarantee this administration will take the decisive and immediate actions necessary to keep our country safe," he said.

Senator John McCain said that Russia's deployment of
nuclear-tipped ground-launched cruise missiles is in violation of theIntermediate-Range Nuclear Forces(INF) Treaty.
"As Vladimir Putin continues his testing of the new administration, Russia's deployment of nuclear-tipped ground-launched cruise missiles in violation of the INF Treaty is a significant military threat to US forces in Europe and our NATO allies," he said.
"Congress has made clear in the last two defence authorisation bills that Russia's treaty violation requires a meaningful response. In light of the most recent developments, it is time for the new administration to take immediate action to enhance our deterrent posture in Europe and protect our allies," McCain said.

Senator Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority leader called for an independentand transparent probe into the resignation of former national security advisor Michael Flynn.
"The White House knew for weeks that General Flynn misled the Vice President and that his discussion about sanctions with the Russian government could potentially compromise our national security, because it was subject to blackmail," he said.
"And yet, they let him stay on for weeks, present at and participating in the highest level of national security discussions until those reports were made public. If an investigation is not independent, nonpartisan, and most of all transparent, there is no guarantee this administration will take the decisive and immediate actions necessary to keep our country safe," he said.

Senator John McCain said that Russia's deployment of
nuclear-tipped ground-launched cruise missiles is in violation of theIntermediate-Range Nuclear Forces(INF) Treaty.
"As Vladimir Putin continues his testing of the new administration, Russia's deployment of nuclear-tipped ground-launched cruise missiles in violation of the INF Treaty is a significant military threat to US forces in Europe and our NATO allies," he said.
"Congress has made clear in the last two defence authorisation bills that Russia's treaty violation requires a meaningful response. In light of the most recent developments, it is time for the new administration to take immediate action to enhance our deterrent posture in Europe and protect our allies," McCain said.

Senator Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority leader called for an independentand transparent probe into the resignation of former national security advisor Michael Flynn.
"The White House knew for weeks that General Flynn misled the Vice President and that his discussion about sanctions with the Russian government could potentially compromise our national security, because it was subject to blackmail," he said.
"And yet, they let him stay on for weeks, present at and participating in the highest level of national security discussions until those reports were made public. If an investigation is not independent, nonpartisan, and most of all transparent, there is no guarantee this administration will take the decisive and immediate actions necessary to keep our country safe," he said.

Senator John McCain said that Russia's deployment of
nuclear-tipped ground-launched cruise missiles is in violation of theIntermediate-Range Nuclear Forces(INF) Treaty.
"As Vladimir Putin continues his testing of the new administration, Russia's deployment of nuclear-tipped ground-launched cruise missiles in violation of the INF Treaty is a significant military threat to US forces in Europe and our NATO allies," he said.
"Congress has made clear in the last two defence authorisation bills that Russia's treaty violation requires a meaningful response. In light of the most recent developments, it is time for the new administration to take immediate action to enhance our deterrent posture in Europe and protect our allies," McCain said.

Senator Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority leader called for an independentand transparent probe into the resignation of former national security advisor Michael Flynn.
"The White House knew for weeks that General Flynn misled the Vice President and that his discussion about sanctions with the Russian government could potentially compromise our national security, because it was subject to blackmail," he said.
"And yet, they let him stay on for weeks, present at and participating in the highest level of national security discussions until those reports were made public. If an investigation is not independent, nonpartisan, and most of all transparent, there is no guarantee this administration will take the decisive and immediate actions necessary to keep our country safe," he said.

Senator John McCain said that Russia's deployment of
nuclear-tipped ground-launched cruise missiles is in violation of theIntermediate-Range Nuclear Forces(INF) Treaty.
"As Vladimir Putin continues his testing of the new administration, Russia's deployment of nuclear-tipped ground-launched cruise missiles in violation of the INF Treaty is a significant military threat to US forces in Europe and our NATO allies," he said.
"Congress has made clear in the last two defence authorisation bills that Russia's treaty violation requires a meaningful response. In light of the most recent developments, it is time for the new administration to take immediate action to enhance our deterrent posture in Europe and protect our allies," McCain said.

Senator Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority leader called for an independentand transparent probe into the resignation of former national security advisor Michael Flynn.
"The White House knew for weeks that General Flynn misled the Vice President and that his discussion about sanctions with the Russian government could potentially compromise our national security, because it was subject to blackmail," he said.
"And yet, they let him stay on for weeks, present at and participating in the highest level of national security discussions until those reports were made public. If an investigation is not independent, nonpartisan, and most of all transparent, there is no guarantee this administration will take the decisive and immediate actions necessary to keep our country safe," he said.

Senator John McCain said that Russia's deployment of
nuclear-tipped ground-launched cruise missiles is in violation of theIntermediate-Range Nuclear Forces(INF) Treaty.
"As Vladimir Putin continues his testing of the new administration, Russia's deployment of nuclear-tipped ground-launched cruise missiles in violation of the INF Treaty is a significant military threat to US forces in Europe and our NATO allies," he said.
"Congress has made clear in the last two defence authorisation bills that Russia's treaty violation requires a meaningful response. In light of the most recent developments, it is time for the new administration to take immediate action to enhance our deterrent posture in Europe and protect our allies," McCain said.

Senator Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority leader called for an independentand transparent probe into the resignation of former national security advisor Michael Flynn.
"The White House knew for weeks that General Flynn misled the Vice President and that his discussion about sanctions with the Russian government could potentially compromise our national security, because it was subject to blackmail," he said.
"And yet, they let him stay on for weeks, present at and participating in the highest level of national security discussions until those reports were made public. If an investigation is not independent, nonpartisan, and most of all transparent, there is no guarantee this administration will take the decisive and immediate actions necessary to keep our country safe," he said.

"The way the White House responded to the supposedly new revelations about General Flynn over the past few weeks is downright suspicious and only confirms the need for an independent, bipartisan investigation modelled after the 9/11 commission to look into other connections to Russia," said Democratic National Committee senior advisor Zac Petkansas.