Russia vetoes France’s Security Council resolution on Syria

In his statement, the Russian envoy to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, said that all of the members of the UNSC understood from the beginning that both draft resolutions would not go through.

Churkin urged all sides to restart the Syria peace process, which he said had been “jeopardized” by the radical groups.

The French proposal implied “upgraded” coordination of monitoring of the situation in Syria and reactivating the cessation of hostilities in Aleppo. One of the key points of the proposal was a halt to Syrian and Russian bombardment of East Aleppo. However, Moscow and Damascus repeatedly stressed they are targeting terrorist hideouts there, which have been jeopardizing the cessation of hostilities.

If you [Al-Nusra] did decide to leave, in dignity with your weapons, to Idlib or anywhere you wanted to go, I personally am ready, physically ready, to accompany you,” he said.

De Mistura, warned that East Aleppo might be destroyed within two months if the military action in the city continues.

Russia and the Syrian government have come under intense criticism from the US in recent days over the strikes in Aleppo. On Friday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that the Russian and Syrian governments' actions in Syria "beg for an appropriate investigation of war crimes." He alleged that Moscow and Damascus have been “hitting hospitals, medical facilities,” in the war-ravaged country.

Russia and Syria have denied any wrongdoing, with Moscow insisting that any peace plan for Syria and Aleppo in particular will not bear fruit until the US-backed rebels clearly distance themselves from Al-Nusra. A respective obligation on the United States is part of the Syria peace plan signed in Geneva in September.

During a press briefing on Friday, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said that the US had consistently failed to deliver on its promises.

“As a result, it was not possible to mark the borders of the areas occupied by the ‘moderate’ opposition and separate them from the radical terrorist groups. In the aftermath, it has led to problems in identifying specific violators of the ceasefire,” Antonov said.

Russia on its part submitted to the UNSC a counter resolution on Syria. According to the document seen by RIA Novosti Moscow calls for an immediate stop of violence in the war ravaged Aleppo. A respective monitoring should be then evaluated by the International Syrian Support Group (ISSG), the document says. One of the key elements of the proposal is an urgent need for a separation of moderate rebels from terrorist groups like al-Nusra in Aleppo, as agreed between Moscow and Washington in Geneva on September 9. According to the latest estimations by the UN between six and eight thousand militants are currently holding the eastern part of Aleppo, with nearly a half estimated to belong or act together with the al-Nusra terrorists.

Russian proposal is also strongly backing calls by the UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura to allow safe exit for Nusra terrorists in order to bring relief to Aleppo. On Thursday de Mistura said he is willing to personally escort them out.