UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed a US-Russia agreement over a truce deal in Syria and urged all sides to stick to the peace deal to reportedly take effect on February 27.

The cessation of hostilities is meant to be “a first step towards a more durable ceasefire,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Monday about the agreement, which is meant to take effect on February 27.

“The Secretary-General strongly urges the parties to abide by the terms of the agreement,” he said.

Ban said the truce that was announced Monday “contributes to creating an environment conducive for the resumption of political negotiations,” which had been scheduled to resume this week.