Russia and China on Monday vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution that would have demanded a seven-day truce in Syria's Aleppo, with Russia arguing it would allow rebels to regroup and that time was needed for talks between Washington and Moscow.
It was the sixth time Russia has vetoed a Security Council resolution on Syria since the conflict started in 2011 and the fifth time China has blocked action. Venezuela also voted against the text - drafted by New Zealand, Egypt and Spain - while Angola abstained. The remaining 11 states voted in favor.
"These kinds of pauses have been used by fighters to reinforce their ammunition and to strengthen their positions and this will only worsen the suffering of civilians," Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said of the proposed seven-day truce.