Western refusal to fund the reconstruction of territory held by Syrian dictator Bashar Assad is an “evil practice,” according to a top Russian diplomat.

“Their key message was the reluctance to provide assistance to reconstruct Syria until political reforms are carried out there,” Vassily Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations, told TASS, a state-run outlet. “If we take part in this meeting, we won’t blow their trumpet, but will make another attempt to persuade our colleagues to give up their evil practice.”