Secretary of State John Kerry has suspended diplomatic talks with Russia over Syria, citing President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing military intervention on behalf of incumbent dictator Bashar Assad.
“This is not a decision that was taken lightly,” State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a Monday statement. “The United States spared no effort in negotiating and attempting to implement an arrangement with Russia aimed at reducing violence, providing unhindered humanitarian access, and degrading terrorist organizations operating in Syria, including [Islamic State] and al Qaeda in Syria.”
Kerry attempted to negotiate a ceasefire that would have led to coordination between the United States and Russia to destroy the terrorist groups operating in the country. Under the terms of the deal, U.S.-backed groups and Assad would stop fighting and humanitarian aid would flow into rebel-held quarters of Aleppo, a critical city in northern Syria. After seven days of such behavior, the military coordination would begin to take place.
“Unfortunately, Russia failed to live up to its own commitments,” Kirby said. “Rather, Russia and the Syrian regime have chosen to pursue a military course, inconsistent with the cessation of hostilities, as demonstrated by their intensified attacks against civilian areas, targeting of critical infrastructure such as hospitals, and preventing humanitarian aid from reaching civilians in need, including through the Sept. 19 attack on a humanitarian aid convoy.”
The decision follows up on a threat to end talks that Kerry originally made last week. It comes on the same day that Putin announced he is canceling a plutonium disposal treaty, signed in 2000, designed to destroy material that could be used for making nuclear weapons.
The Obama administration has not laid out what its next approach to Syria might be. Last week, Kerry indicated that the U.S. was still hoping Russia would come around at some point and stick to the cessation of hostilities agreement.
