U.S. criticizes Russia’s ‘barbarism’ in Syria

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations on Sunday criticized Russia’s “barbarism” in Aleppo, Syria.

{mosads}”What Russia is sponsoring and doing is not counter-terrorism, it is barbarism,” Samantha Power, U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said, according to Reuters.

“Instead of pursuing peace, Russia and Assad make war. Instead of helping get life-saving aid to civilians, Russia and Assad are bombing the humanitarian convoys, hospitals and first responders who are trying desperately to keep people alive,” Power said.

The U.N. Security Council met Sunday to talk about Aleppo. The meeting was requested by the United States, Britain and France.

Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told the council hundreds of groups “are being armed” in Syria.

“The territory of the country is being bombed indiscriminately and bringing a peace is almost an impossible task now because of this,” he said.

Britain’s U.N. ambassador, Matthew Rycroft, said the U.S. and Russia’s attempt to create peace in Syria is “very, very near the end of its life.”

“And yes the Security Council needs to be ready to fulfill our responsibilities,” Rycroft told the Council.

“The regime and Russia have instead plunged to new depths and unleashed a new hell on Aleppo,” he continued. “Russia is partnering with the Syrian regime to carry out war crimes.”

“Russia holds a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council. This is a privilege and it is a responsibility. Yet in Syria and in Aleppo, Russia is abusing this historic privilege,” she said.

Syria’s U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja’afari said to the council that political solutions can be successful “by providing the requisite conditions through intensified efforts to fight terrorism.” Power, Rycroft and French U.N. ambassador Francois Delattre reportedly walked out of the chamber when Syria’s U.N. ambassador began talking.

“The real war on terrorism has never started yet,” he said.

“The advent of Syrian victory is imminent.”