Russia rules out extension to Syria ceasefire
Russia rules out extension to Syria ceasefire
Russia has said that it will not extend another ceasefire in Syria, as the Syrian regime launches a new offensive on opposition areas of Aleppo .
2 min read
Fighting and bombing has returned in Aleppo after a brief truce [Getty]
Russia has ruled out early moves to renew its ceasefire in Aleppo, after a brief truce ended at the weekend with renewed bombing and a regime offensive.
"The question of renewing the humanitarian pause is not relevant now," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Interfax news agency, in Moscow's first official comment on why it did not extend the ceasefire further.
Heavy fighting resumed in the devasted Syrian city on Saturday after Russia, a government ally, ended its three-day cessation of hostilities.
In order to renew the pause, "our opponents must ensure appropriate behaviour by the anti-government groups that in particular sabotaged the medical evacuation that was intended during the humanitarian pause," Ryabkov said.
He chastised the US-led coalition, saying that it was criticising Damascus and Moscow instead of "really exerting influence on the opposition, the rebels".
"Over the last three days, what was needed did not happen," he said.
Ryabkov also said that he did not see the "conditions" for ministerial-level negotiations on Syria before the US elections on 8 November, after a Lausanne meeting between world leaders earlier this month ended with no breakthrough.
"It's almost no time until the US elections. To be honest, I don't see the conditions for a ministerial meeting," he said.
He insisted that Damascus and Moscow were fulfilling international agreements, although human rights groups have dismissed these claims.
The Kremlin had hailed the humanitarian ceasefire as a "manifestation of goodwill" as it faced mounting criticism over its bombing of rebel-held eastern Aleppo in support of a brutal regime offensive on the city.
But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday questioned the viability of humanitarian pauses under current conditions in comments to journalists.
Russia has demanded that the US-led coalition encourage moderate rebels from hardline "terrorist" groups, which Moscow claims has not happened.
"All this is far from helpful, either for the pauses or the process of supplying humanitarian aid," Peskov said.
The Kremlin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier expressed concern at the small numbers of civilians and fighters leaving the city, with only a handful reported to have crossed through a single passage.
Lavrov on Friday accused fighters from the rebel groups Fateh al-Sham Front and Ahrar al-Sham of obstructing the departure of civilians and combatants prepared to leave, saying they used "threats, blackmail and brute force".
"The question of renewing the humanitarian pause is not relevant now," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Interfax news agency, in Moscow's first official comment on why it did not extend the ceasefire further.
Heavy fighting resumed in the devasted Syrian city on Saturday after Russia, a government ally, ended its three-day cessation of hostilities.
In order to renew the pause, "our opponents must ensure appropriate behaviour by the anti-government groups that in particular sabotaged the medical evacuation that was intended during the humanitarian pause," Ryabkov said.
He chastised the US-led coalition, saying that it was criticising Damascus and Moscow instead of "really exerting influence on the opposition, the rebels".
"Over the last three days, what was needed did not happen," he said.
Ryabkov also said that he did not see the "conditions" for ministerial-level negotiations on Syria before the US elections on 8 November, after a Lausanne meeting between world leaders earlier this month ended with no breakthrough.
"It's almost no time until the US elections. To be honest, I don't see the conditions for a ministerial meeting," he said.
He insisted that Damascus and Moscow were fulfilling international agreements, although human rights groups have dismissed these claims.
The Kremlin had hailed the humanitarian ceasefire as a "manifestation of goodwill" as it faced mounting criticism over its bombing of rebel-held eastern Aleppo in support of a brutal regime offensive on the city.
But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday questioned the viability of humanitarian pauses under current conditions in comments to journalists.
Russia has demanded that the US-led coalition encourage moderate rebels from hardline "terrorist" groups, which Moscow claims has not happened.
"All this is far from helpful, either for the pauses or the process of supplying humanitarian aid," Peskov said.
The Kremlin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier expressed concern at the small numbers of civilians and fighters leaving the city, with only a handful reported to have crossed through a single passage.
Lavrov on Friday accused fighters from the rebel groups Fateh al-Sham Front and Ahrar al-Sham of obstructing the departure of civilians and combatants prepared to leave, saying they used "threats, blackmail and brute force".
Many human rights groups and Syrian activists have denied these claims.
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