Secretary of State John Kerry is continuing to talk to his Russian counterpart about the crisis in Syria, even after the U.S. formally suspended bilateral talks due to Russia’s determination to support attacks on civilians.
“We’re not going to stop talking altogether,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters on Wednesday.
Kerry’s decision to talk to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, just two days after suspending talks, prompted derision within the press briefing. “Do you guys actually do anything that you say?” one reporter laughed.
Toner argued that Kerry hadn’t reversed course, because Wednesday morning’s conversation was a conversation that took place against the backdrop of diplomacy between several countries. Kerry, by contrast, had merely ended negotiations led principally by Russia and the United States.
“Come on,” Toner replied to the reporter’s question. “It would be irresponsible for us, given what’s happening in Aleppo, not to touch base with Foreign Minister Lavrov periodically.”
Kerry condemned Russian support for Syrian dictator Bashar Assad while traveling in Brussels for a European Union event. “So we will work to create the conditions that allow for the resumption of talks between the parties,” Kerry said. “But Russia and the regime know exactly what they need to do to live up to international law and to meet the agreements that they have already, several times, announced publicly they would adhere to.”
