Russia reportedly receives an icy reception after it privately asks the US for help in rebuilding Syria

REUTERS/Alexei Druzhinin/RIA Novosti/Kremlin

• Russia has reportedly used a communications channel with America’s top general to propose a plan to rebuild Syria and repatriate refugees.
• According to a US memo, the proposal was sent on July 19 by Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the Russian military’s General Staff, to US Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
• The memo received an icy reception in Washington.
• The proposal illustrates how Russia, having helped turn the tide of the war in favor of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is now pressing Washington and others to aid the reconstruction of areas under his control.

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Russia has used a closely guarded communications channel with America’s top general to propose the two former Cold War foes cooperate to rebuild Syria and repatriate refugees to the war-torn country, according to a US government memo.

The proposal was sent in a July 19 letter by Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the Russian military’s General Staff, to US Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to the memo which was seen by Reuters.

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