Russia opposes a humanitarian resolution on Syria

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia said Wednesday it opposes a new U.N. Security Council resolution on the humanitarian plight in Syria, an announcement that is likely to torpedo a Western and Arab-backed draft that would pressure the government and opposition to allow desperately needed aid into the country.

Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told a press briefing that “hard, pragmatic and purposeful work is necessary” to resolve specific humanitarian issues — not a council resolution which will almost certainly aim “to politicize the problem.”