Leaders fail to set date for Syria peace talks

A meeting in Vienna, aimed at restoring ceasefire in war-torn Syria, ended without a date being agreed for the resumption of peace talks. While the U.S., Russia and other powers vowed to airdrop supplies for humanitarian relief, the Syrian opposition said it would join Geneva negotiations only after violence stops on the ground.

Philip Hammond, the U.K. Foreign Secretary, said that airdropping relief supplies will not only save countless lives in Syria but also prevent a complete collapse of the political process.

A joint statement by the U.S., European and the Middle East powers, Russia and Iran called on the warring factions in Syria to honor the cessation of hostilities and allow access to besieged areas, writes Reuters. World powers used a “stronger language than in the past” to warn all sides that in the event of continued truce violation, they would lose the protection to which they are entitled under the Feb. 27 ceasefire agreement.

The inconclusive nature of the meeting reflects “the depth of international division over the crisis, notes The Guardian. While Russia and Iran back Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, the U.S., European and Middle East powers seek to overthrow the leader.