Russia: US statement on Syria is supporting terrorism

MOSCOW

The latest U.S. statement, which says Moscow’s failure to stop the slaughter in Syria might expose “Russian interests, perhaps even Russian cities” to extremist attacks, is 'supporting terrorism', Russian Deputy Foreign Minister said Thursday.

Sergei Ryabkov told reporters that the U.S. supported terrorism by refusing to collaborate with Russia on the fight against Daesh and by making such statements, referring to US State Department spokesman John Kirby's remarks on Wednesday.

Kirby said Russia was responsible for the violence raging in Aleppo, adding if Moscow did not use its leverage with the Syrian regime to stop the violence, “the consequences are that the civil war will continue in Syria, that extremist groups will continue to exploit the vacuums that are there in Syria, to expand their operations, which will include -- no question -- attacks against Russian interests, perhaps even Russian cities.”

Ryabkov also said that Washington's demand for a seven-day ceasefire was unacceptable and Russia's 48-hour "humanitarian pause" offer in Aleppo still stood.

Since Sept. 19, when the Syrian regime ended a week-long cease-fire brokered by the U.S. and Russia, almost 500 civilians have been killed and hundreds injured in attacks on the war-battered city.