Russia's Ministry of Defense blamed the U.S. for the breakdown of talks on Syria, the TASS news agency reported.
“We regret that the agreements we had reached with such difficulty at the level of foreign ministers on Sept.9 were thwarted by the USA,” Russia's Deputy Defense Minister said during the Xinjiang Security Forum in Beijing.
“From Washington's destructive actions, the terrorists are winning,” he added.
The Ministry of Defense official suggested that the Americans were either unable or unwilling to distinguish between the Syrian opposition groups included in the anti-Islamic State coalition and Jabhat al-Nusra, an Islamist group with ties to Al Qaeda.
He also claimed that American-backed forces had failed to participate in unblocking and securing Castello Road, the main artery for humanitarian aid into the besieged city of Aleppo.
Antonov also said that there was “no military solution” in Syria and called for Washington to “give up political ambitions and sit down at the negotiating table.”
“The sooner Washington realizes that only with Russia can it defeat terrorism, the faster we will achieve the desired results of the international community,” he said.
Talks between Russia and the U.S. on Syria were suspended on Oct.3.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.