US Secretary of State John Kerry insists that the world powers will bring about a temporary truce in Syria and make it succeed despite Russian skepticism. His comments came after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, according to AP, that the probability of bringing about a successful "cessation of hostilities" was, in his estimation, 49 percent. Kerry responded sarcastically to Lavrov's estimation by saying, "I like his optimism." The world powers agreed to the terms of a limited ceasefire at the Munich Security Council this week which would allow humanitarian aid convoys into besieged areas across the war-torn country. This is the first attempt to broker a ceasefire since the breakdown in the Syria peace talks at Geneva, which have been rescheduled to restart in February 25, earlier this month. Those talks broke down when Russia began giving air support to a large Syrian offensive which is encircling opposition forces in the city of Aleppo.
