The Syrian government has agreed to a ceasefire deal with rebel groups across the country, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced.

The ceasefire will come into effect at midnight (22:00 GMT) on Thursday, with Russia and Turkey acting as guarantors of the deal.

Russia and Turkey have supported opposing sides in the five-year conflict, but Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have warmed relations in recent months to find a compromise.

This ceasefire follows a number of temporary deals negotiated over the Aleppo in the last month, where thousands of rebels and civilians had been stranded in an enclave in the east of the city.

Implementing the peace deal will be a huge challenge for all involved, with deep distrust on both sides, and difficulty in finding common ground amongst the numerous rebel groups.

The deal does not include a ceasefire with the Islamic State or Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (formerly known as the al-Qaeda-backed Jabhat al-Nusra).