United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254

The United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254 was unanimously adopted on 18 December 2015. It calls for a ceasefire and political settlement in Syria.

The resolution
The resolution demands that all parties immediately cease any attacks against civilian targets, it urges all Member States to support efforts to achieve a ceasefire and requests the U.N. to convene the parties to engage in formal negotiations in early January 2016.

Groups seen as "terrorist groups" by the U.N. Security Council, including the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and the al-Nusra Front, are excluded. Offensive and defensive actions against such groups will continue. A mechanism to monitor the ceasefire will be set up.

Within 18 months, free and fair elections will be held under U.N. supervision. The political transition will be Syrian-led.

Aftermath
The UN Resolution 2254 was invoked by Iran, Russia, and Turkey as the legal basis for the political process required to solve the Syrian conflict, at the first round of the Astana Talks in January 2017."