World powers have called for a pause to fighting in Syria within a week following marathon talks in the German city of Munich.
The meeting was an attempt to restart peace talks aimed at finding a political solution to the five-year conflict.
US Secretary of State, John Kerry, and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, hosted the discussions of the 17-member International Syria Support Group on the sidelines of the Munich Security conference.
Mr Kerry says he believes progress was made at the talks with a key agreement being a cessation of hostilities.
He was quick to make the distinction that it is not a ceasefire.
"A ceasefire has a great many legal prerogatives and requirements. A cessation of hostilities does not; it's not anticipated to. But in many ways they have a similar effect. A ceasefire in the minds of many of the participants in this particular moment connotes something far more permanent and far more reflective of an end of conflict - and it is distinctly not that. This is a pause that is dependent on the process going forward and therefor, cessation of hostilities is a much more appropriate, apt term."
Mr Kerry says it won't apply to militant groups operating in Syria, like the so-called Islamic State, or Daesh.
"We have agreed to implement a nationwide cessation of hostilities to begin in a target of one week's time. That's ambitious, but everybody is determined to move as rapidly as possible to try to achieve this. This will apply to any and all parties in Syria with the exception of the terrorist organisations Daesh and el-Nusrah and any other terrorist organisation designated by the Security Council."
Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, conceded it will be difficult to implement.
(Translated) "As a first step, the cessation of the armed conflict is not an easy task. There are too many players involved in the military hostilities."
John Kerry says a deal was also reached to allow immediate humanitarian access to besieged towns in Syria.
"We have agreed to accelerate and expand the delivery of humanitarian aid beginning immediately. Sustained delivery will begin this week. First to the areas where it is most urgently needed, the besieged areas of rural Damascus, Madaya and then to all the people in need throughout the country, particularly in the besieged or hard-to-reach areas, some smaller neighbourhoods and towns."
United Nations envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura welcomed the developments.
But he says the real challenge is whether the commitments on paper make it on the ground.
"What I can say is that this is a good testing time. Are the Syrian people going to see these outcomes? Then they will be able to believe in future conferences and they will be able to believe in their own future."
The meeting also agreed to the resumption of peace talks between the Syrian government and rebel groups.
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