NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg accused Russia of undermining efforts to reach a peaceful solution in Syria by targeting opposition groups instead of Daesh terrorists and said a lasting peace would only be achieved if this stopped.
"Russia has mainly targeted opposition groups and not ISIL (Islamic State militants). Air strikes of Russian planes against different opposition groups in Syria have actually undermined the efforts to reach a negotiated, peaceful solution," he said.
His comments came after major powers, including Russia, reached agreement on plans for a ceasefire between rebels and government forces in Syria, although Moscow has said it will continue bombing militants.
"What we need is a lasting ceasefire, we need help for the civilians and we need of course an agreement on transition," Stoltenberg added.
Turkey's Foreign Minister indicates impossibility of ceasefire humanitarian access if Russia does not end its strikes
"If Russia does not end its airstrikes on Western-backed Syrian opposition forces, a ceasefire reached by major powers will not hold and humanitarian access will not be effectively secured," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Friday.
More than 250,000 people in Syria have been killed and more than 10 million displaced, according to United Nations' figures.
