The West has issued an ultimatum to Russia: stop supporting the legitimate government in Syria
The heads of the foreign affairs departments of the United States of America, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, as well as EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, in an ultimatum, demanded that Russia stop hostilities in Syria and resume negotiations under the auspices of the UN.
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The corresponding statement was published on the US State Department website.
“Events in Syria this week confirm what we have been saying for some time: the burden is on Russia to prove that it is willing and able to take extraordinary measures to salvage diplomatic efforts to restore a cessation of hostilities, humanitarian access and creating the conditions necessary to resume negotiations on a political transition under the auspices of the UN,” the statement said.
Also in the statement, the parties expressed outrage at Russia's support for the troops of the legitimate government of Bashar al-Assad.
The US and EU also called on Russia to take measures to stop the bombing of positions of pro-Western opponents of the Syrian regime and focus on eliminating Islamic State groups.
Russia itself believes that returning Syria to peace has become an almost impossible task. This was stated by Russia's permanent representative to the UN Vitaly Churkin at an emergency meeting of the Security Council. According to Churkin, “hundreds of armed groups are operating in the country,” and airstrikes on its territory are carried out by “everyone who is not too lazy.”
He also assured that Russia will no longer agree to unilateral steps for a ceasefire in Syria.
“Such tactics cannot continue indefinitely. We will no longer agree to unilateral steps,” Churkin said. According to the diplomat, in the current situation, “we can talk about resuscitating the truce only on a collective basis.”
The West has issued an ultimatum to Russia: stop supporting the legitimate government in Syria.