U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Thursday rejected Russia's argument that it was working for peace in Syria, and told the UN Security Council that they all need to put more pressure on Russia.
"I listened to my Russian colleague, and he talked about task forces, and diplomacy, and less criticism of the Syrian regime," Haley said after the Russian ambassador spoke. "Where has that gotten us? It hasn't gotten us anywhere."
"And then, the times where we could actually do something as a Security Council, who's the one member state that continues to protect the regime that's keeping this humanitarian assistance from going through?" she said, referring to Russia.
"Many of you said, we need to put pressure on the Syrian regime. That's actually not the case," she said. "We need to put pressure on Russia, because Russia continues to cover for the Syrian regime. Russia continues to allow them to keep humanitarian aid from the people that need it."
"Russia continues to cover for a leader who uses chemical weapons against his own people," Haley pursued. "Russia continues to veto, and Assad continues to do these things because they know Russia will continue to cover for them."
It was Haley's latest attempt to turn the screws on Russia, which the U.S. says is responsible for support Syrian President Bashar Assad's war against his own people.
U.S. pressure on Russia has increased at the UN under President Trump, especially in light of Russia's attempt to block resolutions condemning Syria's chemical attacks against its population. In April, Russia for the eighth time blocked a resolution aimed at calling out Syria's actions during the bloody civil war.
"All eyes and all pressure now need to go to Russia, because they are the ones that could stop this if they wanted to," she concluded. "So don't listen to the distractions of what they're trying to say, pointing to other conflicts."
After her remarks, Russia's ambassador argued that his country, Turkey and Iran are "bearing their weight of work to ensure there is compliance with the cessation of hostilities."
He also said Haley didn't say "a word" about how they were trying to improve the situation.
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