The United States condemned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's statement that his goal is a final victory over the city of Aleppo and urged Russia to exert its influence over Damascus to ensure a cessation of hostilities continues in the city.
Just a day after the start of the temporary truce, Assad sent a telegram to Russian President Vladimir Putin saying his army would not accept anything less than "attaining final victory" and "crushing the aggression" by rebels in Aleppo.
"We call on Russia to urgently address this totally unacceptable statement," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told a briefing on Thursday. "It's clearly an effort by Assad to push his agenda, but it is incumbent on Russia to assert influence on that regime to maintain the cessation of hostilities."
Syria has asserted the cessation of hostilities will last 48 hours, but the United States is pressing for it to be made open-ended.
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